Permeation of compacted clay with organic fluids [Conference Object]

Abstract

Penetration of organic liquids through the soil causes contamination and considerable changes in geotechnical properties of soils. In general, these changes are attributed to the variation of dielectric constant and chemistry of the pore fluids which result in several changes in soil behavior. For this reason, it is necessary to investigate the geotechnical properties of contaminated soils for engineering and environmental purposes. In the present study, an extensive laboratory investigation program was carried out on a clayey soil to examine the effect of different percentages of pore fluids on sedimentation time, plasticity and shear strength of the soil obtained from Famagusta, North Cyprus. Contaminated specimens were prepared with different percentages of 0, 20, 40 and 60% ethylene glycol by volume of distilled water. Index tests were performed in order to investigate the sedimentation time and the plasticity changes in the contaminated soils. Finally, unconfined compression tests were carried out on the contaminated samples to evaluate the shear strength parameter of the soil. The results showed a decrease in sedimentation time and plasticity, and also a decrease in the unconfined compressive strength of the contaminated soils with an increase in the percentage of ethylene glycol was obtained.