Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Analytical solution for clay plug swelling experiments

Mathias, S.A.; Greenwell, H.C.; Withers, C.; Erdogan, A.; McElwaine, J.; MacMinn, C.

Analytical solution for clay plug swelling experiments Thumbnail


Authors

C. Withers

A. Erdogan

C. MacMinn



Abstract

Clay swelling experiments frequently involve monitoring the one-dimensional displacement with time of an initially dry clay plug as it imbibes water from a supply at its base. This article presents a new analytical solution for interpreting such experiments based on Richards' equation for flow in a partially saturated porous medium combined with a linear empirical function relating moisture ratio with void ratio. The analytical solution is described by just two parameter groups. The first parameter group describes the swelling potential of the clay. The second parameter group describes the rate at which the swelling plug reaches equilibrium, which is controlled by permeability and capillary pressure. Application of the analytical solution is demonstrated by calibration to one-dimensional displacement data from clay swelling experiments for an illite and bentonite clay.

Citation

Mathias, S., Greenwell, H., Withers, C., Erdogan, A., McElwaine, J., & MacMinn, C. (2017). Analytical solution for clay plug swelling experiments. Applied Clay Science, 149, 75-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2017.07.021

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 21, 2017
Online Publication Date Aug 4, 2017
Publication Date Dec 1, 2017
Deposit Date Jul 27, 2017
Publicly Available Date Aug 4, 2018
Journal Applied Clay Science
Print ISSN 0169-1317
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 149
Pages 75-78
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2017.07.021

Files





You might also like



Downloadable Citations