Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Water retention characteristics of unsaturated bentonite–sand mixtures under controlled-temperature

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Unsaturated bentonite–sand mixtures (BSMs) are accepted generally as ideal buffer/backfill materials in geologic repositories because of its excellent performance. Water retention characteristics are the important factor that affect the engineering properties of BSMs, but little attention has been devoted to that of Gaomiaozi (GMZ) BSMs under controlled-temperature in high suction range. This study evaluated the soil–water characteristic curves (SWCCs) of compacted GMZ BSMs using the vapour equilibrium technique with different sand content and temperature under unconfined conditions. It was found that the sand grains size had a negligible effect on the SWCCs in the high suction range. As the temperature increased, the decreasing adsorption and the increasing evaporation capacity promoted the decrease of water content. The BSMs changed from the compact structure to a loose structure with increasing sand content, which strengthened the flow of vapour and evaporation of water from bentonite and leaded to an observable reduction of water retention characteristics of GMZ BSMs. We presented a new empirical equation for unsaturated BSMs in the high suction rang considering effects of temperature and sand content, and that processed the data more efficiently and described satisfactorily the effects of temperature and sand content on the SWCCs of GMZ BSMs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agus SS (2005) An experimental study on hydro-mechanical characteristics of compacted bentonite-sand mixtures Weimar: University of Weimar

  • Alonso EE, Alcoverro J, Coste F, Malinsky L, Merrien-Soukatchoff V, Kadiri I, Jussila P (2005a) The FEBEX benchmark test: case definition and comparison of modelling approaches. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 42(5–6):611–638

    Google Scholar 

  • Alonso EE, Romero E, Hoffmann C, García-Escudero E (2005b) Expansive bentonite–sand mixtures in cyclic controlled-suction drying and wetting. Eng Geol 81(3):213–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Blatz JA, Cui YJ, Oldecop L (2008) Vapour equilibrium and osmotic technique for suction control. Geotech Geol Eng 26(6):661–673

    Google Scholar 

  • Brgesson L, Chijimatsu M, Fujita T, Nguyen TS, Jing L (2001) Thermo-hydro-mechanical characterisation of a bentonite-based buffer material by laboratory tests and numerical back analyses. Int J Rock Mechan & Min ences 38(1):95–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen ZG, Tang CS, Zhu C, Shi B, Liu YM (2017) Compression, swelling and rebound behavior of GMZ bentonite/additive mixture under coupled hydro-mechanical condition. Eng Geol 221:50–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Cui YJ (2017) On the hydro-mechanical behaviour of MX80 bentonite-based materials. J Rock Mechan Geotechn Eng 9(3):565–574

    Google Scholar 

  • Cui YJ, Loiseau C and Delage P (2002) Microstructure changes of a confined swelling soil due to suction controlled hydration. Proceedings of the 3nd International Conference on Unsaturated Soils, UNSAT’2002 (2), 593–598, Recife, Brazil, Balkema

  • Cui YJ, Tang AM, Loiseau C, Delage P (2008) Determining the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of a compacted sand–bentonite mixture under constant-volume and free-swell conditions. Phys Chem Earth Parts A/B/C 33:S462–S471

    Google Scholar 

  • Cui YJ, Tang AM, Qian LX, Ye WM, Chen B (2011) Thermal-mechanical behavior of compacted GMZ bentonite. Soils Found 51(6):1065–1074

    Google Scholar 

  • Cui SL, Zhang HY, Zhang M (2012) Swelling characteristics of compacted GMZ bentonite- sand mixtures as a buffer/backfill material in China. Eng Geol 141–142:65–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean JA (1999) Lange's handbook of chemistry. New york; London: McGraw-Hill, Inc

  • Dineen K, Colmenares JE, Ridley AM, Burland JB (1999) Suction and volume changes of a bentonite-enriched sand. Proce Institution Civil Eng Geotechn Eng 137(4):197–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon DA, Gray MN, Graham J (1996) Swelling and hydraulic properties of bentonites from Japan, Canada and USA. Environm Geotechn 1:43–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang XW, Shen CN, Li CH, Wang L (2014) Test study on effects of temperature, sand mix ratios and dry density on soil water characteristic curves of bentonite-sand mixtures. Appl Mech Mater 580–583:359–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Fattah MY, Al-Lami AH (2016) Behavior and characteristics of compacted expansive unsaturated bentonite-sand mixture. J Rock Mechan Geotechn Eng 8(5):629–639

    Google Scholar 

  • Fattah MY, Salim NM, Irshayyid EJ (2017) Determination of the soil–water characteristic curve of unsaturated bentonite–sand mixtures. Environm Earth Sci 76(5):201. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6511-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fredlund DG, Rahardjo H (1993) Soil mechanics for unsaturated soils. John Wiley and Sons

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredlund DG, Xing A, Huang S (1994) Predicting the permeability function for unsaturated soils using the soil-water characteristic curve. Can Geotech J 31(4):533–546

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredlund DG, Xing A, Fredlund MD, Barbour SL (1996) The relationship of the unsaturated soil shear strength to the soil-water characteristic curve. Can Geotech J 33(3):440–448

    Google Scholar 

  • Gharbieh H, Bohner E, Haapala K and Salparanta L (2018) Bentonite buffer blocks manufactured by isostatic compression. Environ Geotech 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1680/jenge.17.00080

  • Ministry of Water Resources, People's Republic of China (2019) GB/T50123-2019 Standard for Soil Test Method. Chinese Plans Press, Beijing

  • Gilson DFNG, Fredlund DG (2004) Soil-water characteristic curve equation with independent properties. J Geotechn Geoenvironm Eng 130(2):209–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Gueddouda MK, Goual I, Benabed B, Taibi S, Aboubekr N (2016) Hydraulic properties of dune sand–bentonite mixtures of insulation barriers for hazardous waste facilities. J Rock Mechan Geotechn Eng 8(4):541–550

    Google Scholar 

  • Imbert C, Villar MV (2006) Hydro-mechanical response of a bentonite pellets/powder mixture upon infiltration. Appl Clay Sci 32(3–4):197–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Imbert C, Olchitzky E, Lassabatère T, Dangla P, Courtois A (2005) Evaluation of a thermal criterion for an engineered barrier system. Eng Geol 81(3):269–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Inoue A, Kohyama N, Kitagawa R, Watanabe T (1987) Chemical and morphological evidence for the conversion of smectite to illite. Clays Clay Miner 35(2):111–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacinto AC, Villar MV, Gómez-Espina R, Ledesma A (2009) Adaptation of the van Genuchten expression to the effects of temperature and density for compacted bentonites. Appl Clay Sci 42(3–4):575–582

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson LH, Tait JC, Shoesmith DW, Crosthwaite JL, and Gray MN (1994) The disposal of Canada's nuclear fuel waste: engineered barriers alternatives (No. AECL--10718). Atomic Energy of Canada Limited

  • Li HC, Fu B (2007) Practical chemistry manual. Chemical Industry Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu YM, Chen ZR (2001) Bentonite from Gaomiaozi inner Mongolia as an ideal buffer/backfilling material in handling highly radioactive wastes-A feasibility study. Acta Mineral Sin 21(3):541–543

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu JF, Skoczylas F, Liu J (2014) Experimental research on water retention and gas permeability of compacted bentonite/sand mixtures. Soils Found 54(5):1027–1038

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcial D (2003) Comportement hydromécanique et microstructural des matériaux de barrière ouvragée, thèse ENPC

  • McQueen IS, Miller RF (1974) Approximating soil moisture characteristics from limited data: Empirical evidence and tentative model. Water Resour Res 10(3):521–527

    Google Scholar 

  • Mollins LH, Stewart DI, Cousens TW (1996) Predicting the properties of bentonite-sand mixtures. Clay Miner 31(02):243–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Pakbaz MC and Khayat N (2004) The effect of sand on strength of mixtures of bentonite-sand. In Engineering Geology for Infrastructure Planning in Europe (pp. 316–320). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Qin B, Chen ZH, Sun FX, Fang XW, Liu YM, Wang J (2012) Temperature effect on water retention curve under high suction and its modeling based on thermodynamics of sorption. Chinese J Geotechn Eng 34(10):1877–1886 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Romero E, Gens A, Lloret A (1999) Water permeability, water retention and microstructure of unsaturated compacted Boom clay. Eng Geol 54(1–2):117–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Romero E, Gens A, Lloret A (2001) Temperature effects on the hydraulic behaviour of an unsaturated clay. Geotech Geol Eng 19(3–4):311–332

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun DA, Sun W, Yan W, Li J (2010) Hydro-mechanical behaviours of highly compacted sand-bentonite mixture. J Rock Mechan Geotechn Eng 2(1):79–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang AM, Cui YJ (2005) Controlling suction by the vapour equilibrium technique at different temperatures and its application in determining the water retention properties of MX80 clay. Can Geotech J 42(1):287–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang GX, Graham J, Blatz J, Gray M, Rajapakse RKND (2002) Suctions, stresses and strengths in unsaturated sand–bentonite. Eng Geol 64(2–3):147–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang AM, Cui YJ, Le TT (2008) A study on the thermal conductivity of compacted bentonites. Appl Clay Sci 41(3–4):181–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Thakur VK, Sreedeep S, Singh DN (2006) Laboratory investigations on extremely high suction measurements for fine-grained soils. Geotech Geol Eng 24(3):565–578

    Google Scholar 

  • Vallejo LE, Mawby R (2000) Porosity influence on the shear strength of granular material-clay mixtures. Eng Geol 58(2):125–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Genuchten MT (1980) A closed-form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils 1. Soil Sci Soc Am J 44(5):892–898

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanapalli SK, Fredlund DG, Pufahl DE, Clifton AW (1996) Model for the prediction of shear strength with respect to soil suction. Can Geotech J 33(3):379–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Villar MV (2002) Thermo-hydro-mechanical characterisation of a bentonite from Cabo de Gata. A study applied to the use of bentonite as sealing material in high level radioactive waste repositories. Publicación Técnica ENRESA 01/2002, Madrid, p 258

  • Villar MV (2007) Water retention of two natural compacted bentonites. Clays Clay Miner 55(3):311–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Villar MV, Lloret A (2004) Influence of temperature on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of a compacted bentonite. Appl Clay Sci 26(1–4):337–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Villar MV, Lloret A (2007) Dismantling of the first section of the FEBEX in situ test: THM laboratory tests on the bentonite blocks retrieved. Phys. Chem. Earth, Parts A/B/C 32 (8): 716–729

  • Villar MV, Gomez-Espina R, Lloret A (2010) Experimental investigation into temperature effect on hydro- mechanical behaviours of bentonite. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 2(1):71–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Villar MV, Lloret A (2004) Inluence of temperature on the hydromechanical behaviour of a compacted bentonite. Appl Clay Sci 26(1–4):337–350

  • Villar MV, Lloret A (2007) Dismantling of the first section of the FEBEX in situ test: THM laboratory tests on the bentonite blocks retrieved. Phys. Chem. Earth, Parts A/B/C 32 (8): 716–729

  • Villar MV, Martín PL and Romero FJ (2014) Long-term THM tests reports: THM cells for the HE-E test: update of results until February 2014. Deliverable-no: D2. 2–7.3. CIEMAT technical report I-EMAT/DMA/2G210/03

  • Volckaert G, Dereeper B, Put M, Ortiz L, Gens A, Vaunat J, Villar MV, Martín PL, Imbert C, Lassabatère T, Mouche E, Cany F (2000) A large-scale in situ demonstration test for repository sealing in an argillaceous host rock. Reseal Project: Phase I. EUR 19612. Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg. 273 pp.

  • Wang J (2010) High-level radioactive waste disposal in China: update 2010. J Rock Mechan Geotechn Eng 2(1):1–11 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Minh Tang A, Cui YJ, Delage P, Barnichon JD, Ye WM (2013) The effects of technological voids on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of compacted bentonite–sand mixture. Soils Found 53(2):232–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Wen Z (2006) Physical property of china’s buffer material for high-level radioactive waste repositories. Chin J Rock Mechan Eng 25(4):794–800

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu L, Ye WM, Chen B, Chen YG, Cui YJ (2016) Experimental investigations on thermo-hydro-mechanical properties of compacted GMZ01 bentonite-sand mixture using as buffer materials. Eng Geol 213:46–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu S, Bian M, Li C, Wu X, Wang Z (2018) Effects of calcium concentration and differential settlement on permeability characteristics of bentonite-sand mixtures. Appl Clay Sci 153:16–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Ye WM, Wan M, Chen B, Chen YG, Cui YJ, Wang J (2009) Effect of temperature on soil-water characteristics and hysteresis of compacted Gaomiaozi bentonite. J Cent South Univ Technol 16(5):821–826

    Google Scholar 

  • Ye WM, Shi LJ, Olivella S, Zhu JY (2017) Simulation of a hydromechanical mock-up test on GMZ01 bentonite with double structure approach. Eur J Environm Civil Eng 1–17

  • Zhang H, Liu J, Cui S, Liang J (2010) Controlling mechanism of quartz sand content on shear strength of bentonite-sand mixtures as buffer/backfill material. Chin J Rock Mechan Eng 29(12):2534–2542 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang M, Zhang H, Cui S, Jia L, Zhou L, Chen H (2012) Engineering properties of GMZ bentonite-sand as buffer/backfilling material for high-level waste disposal. Eur J Environ Civ Eng 16(10):1216–1237

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang M, Zhang H, Jia L, Cui S (2011) Water-Holding Property of GMZ Bentonite-Sand Barrier/Backfilling Mixtures. Adv Sci Eng Med 3(3):249–252

  • Zhang M, Zhang H, Zhou L, Wang B, Wang S (2014) Hydro-mechanical analysis of GMZ bentonite–sand mixtures in the water infiltration process as the buffer/backfill mixture in an engineered nuclear barrier. Appl Clay Sci 97:115–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Sun DA, Jia D (2016) Shear strength of GMZ07 bentonite and its mixture with sand saturated with saline solution. Appl Clay Sci 132:24–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu ZC, Sun DA, Wang XG, Chen F, Wang GP (2015) Determination of residual water content in SWCC based on microscopic structure of bentonite. Chinese J Geotechn Eng 37(7):1211–1217 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 11972374 and No. 51509257.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Airdrome Construction Engineering, Air Force Engineering University, Xi’an, 710038, Shaanxi, China

    Zhihua Yao

  2. China Construction Limited, Beijing, 100005, China

    Faxin Sun

  3. School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China

    Xiangwei Fang

  4. Department of Military Installations, Army Logistical University, Chongqing, 401331, China

    Zhenghan Chen

Authors
  1. Zhihua Yao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Faxin Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiangwei Fang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhenghan Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiangwei Fang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest to this work.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yao, Z., Sun, F., Fang, X. et al. Water retention characteristics of unsaturated bentonite–sand mixtures under controlled-temperature. Environ Earth Sci 80, 315 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09600-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09600-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation