SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1994
STP23906S

Constant-Flow and Constant-Gradient Permeability Tests on Sand-Bentonite-Fly Ash Mixtures

Source

Flexible-wall permeability (hydraulic conductivity) tests are conducted on compacted specimens consisting of 50 percent Class F fly ash with a 50 percent soil admixture (sand with 0, 6.25, 12.5, 18.75, and 25 percent bentonite). All test specimens are back-pressured before permeation with distilled water. Three specimens from each sand-bentonite-fly ash mixture are tested under high (72 or 73) and low (6.1) constant-gradient conditions as well as under constant-flow conditions for a total of 15 tests. Induced hydraulic gradients from the constant-flow tests range from 3.5 to 41. A decrease in permeability with an increase in bentonite content is evident regardless of the test method. However, the permeability is minimized at a bentonite content of 18.75 percent regardless of the test method. The overall lowest permeability value is 1.6 × 10-9 m/s. An increase in hydraulic gradient of 11.9X resulted in a 3.1X to 6.2X decrease in measured permeability values for all test specimens. A significant portion of the difference in measured permeability values is attributed to differences in applied or induced hydraulic gradients regardless of the test method.

Author Information

Shackelford, CD
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Glade, MJ
Engineering-Science, Inc., Denver, CO
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Details
Developed by Committee: D18
Pages: 521–545
DOI: 10.1520/STP23906S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5259-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1442-5