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A Pore Size Distribution-based Microscopic Model for Evaluating the Permeability of Clay

  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Published:
KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Aims and scope

Abstract

This work aimed to propose a semi-empirical model that predicts the permeability of saturated clay using the data of mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). First, the pore size distribution (PSD) curve obtained from an MIP test was regarded as a discrete probability function of pore diameters; thus, its shape could be characterized by probability parameters (e.g., the expected value and the standard deviation). Subsequently, these probability parameters, combined with the microporosity calculated from the volume of intruded mercury, were correlated with the permeability of clay based on Hagen-Poiseuille's equation. Next, the performance of the proposed permeability model was verified using data reported in the literature. Thereafter, the model was applied to estimate the permeability of normally consolidated (NC) and overconsolidated (OC) kaolin subjected to various triaxial loading. The results highlighted that the proposed model is capable of characterizing the sensitive variation of kaolin permeability under different overconsolidation ratios (OCRs), stress paths, and stress levels.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51838001, 51878070, 51878078) and the Hunan Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Engineering Safety, China (No. 16GES04). The authors appreciate the help of Dr. Lamine Ighil-Ameur with regard to triaxial testing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, 410114, China

    Qian-Feng Gao

  2. College of Civil Engineering and Architechture, Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Hangzhou, 310018, China

    Dan Zhao

  3. School of Civil Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, 410114, China

    Ling Zeng

  4. Hunan Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Engineering Safety, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, 411105, China

    Hui Dong

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  1. Qian-Feng Gao
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  2. Dan Zhao
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  3. Ling Zeng
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  4. Hui Dong
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Correspondence to Ling Zeng.

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Gao, QF., Zhao, D., Zeng, L. et al. A Pore Size Distribution-based Microscopic Model for Evaluating the Permeability of Clay. KSCE J Civ Eng 23, 5002–5011 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-019-2219-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-019-2219-z

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