SEDL / STP / STP623-EB / STP27003S

Influence of Eroding Solution Composition on Dispersive Behavior of a Compacted Clay Shale

Statton, CT
Geological engineer, Woodward-Clyde Consultants, Clifton, N.J.

Mitchell, JK
Professor of civil engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Calif

Pages: 10    Published: Jan 1977

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Abstract

The pinhole test was used to determine the boundaries between dispersive and nondispersive behavior for a clay shale with respect to acidity and salt concentration in the erosion solution. It was found that, for this soil, a decrease in pH of the eroding water to less than about 4 (using hydrochloric acid) or an increase to greater than about 11 (using calcium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide) caused a change from dispersive to nondispersive behavior. Similarly, increasing the salt concentration of the eroding water at its natural pH of 6.3 to 0.1 N calcium chloride or 0.5 N sodium chloride caused erosion to stop.