Monday, August 15, 2016

THERMAL TREATMENT OF SOILS

Thermal treatment of soils has been used in the past and proven to increase soil properties. Heating clayey soil at temperatures exceeding 400°C leads to pronounced (irreversible) permanent changes of its engineering properties. Clayey soils with prolonged exposure to increased temperatures have reduced sensitivity to water, show notable increases in shear strength, and decreased compressibility. These results can be varied by heat application type, time of exposure, and temperature. In addition, the mineralogical composition of the clay dictates the final properties. As seen in Figure 3, from studies conducted by Kezdi, the clay's lattice gradual loss of water happens at different temperatures; in particular, all free water has evaporated at 105 - 110°C.  About 500° C typically is the temperature where all water has been burned off (Hausmann, 1990)..
Laboratory investigations by Beles and Stanculescu (Figure 4) show decreases in plasticity after longer durations of thermal exposure. Further, the compressibility of clay soils can be reduced due to exposure of high temperature,

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