Mechanism Study of Differential Permeability Evolution and Microscopic Pore Characteristics of Soft Clay under Saturated Seepage: A Case Study in Chongming East Shoal
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Site Investigation
2.2. Basic Properties
2.3. Variable Head Permeability Test
2.4. Microscopic Tests
2.4.1. MIP Test
2.4.2. SEM Test
2.5. Grey Relation Entropy
3. Results
3.1. Permeability Characteristics
3.1.1. Dynamic evolution
3.1.2. Differential Permeability Patterns among Reclamation Areas
3.2. Pore Characteristics
3.2.1. Pore Distribution
3.2.2. Pore Size
3.2.3. Pore Complexity
3.3. Microstructure Characteristics
4. Discussion
4.1. Correlation between Micropore Parameters and Stable Permeability Coefficient
4.2. Analysis of Seepage Channel Stability and Pore Clogging
4.3. Microscopic Verification and Mechanism Analysis of Clogging Effect
5. Conclusions
- (1)
- During clay seepage, the PC was not constant, but gradually decayed and tended to become stable with time, which indicated the transition from the unstable seepage stage to the relatively stable seepage stage. Compared with inland clay, the PC of offshore clay not only deteriorated more seriously with time but also took longer to reach a relatively stable seepage state, indicating the unstable seepage channel.
- (2)
- The attenuation of PC with time was not monotonic but cyclic, resulting from the alternating action of closing and opening seepage channels. During seepage, the clay particles may have migrated with the water flow and changed the original pore structure; these clay particles could be intercepted by pores, thereby clogging the seepage channels. With the advancement of seepage, some weakly-connected particles, derived from the increased pore water pressure caused by the clogging effect, could migrate again. Then, the pores could be gradually expanded and new seepage channels could be generated. If repeated, the unstable seepage channel could lead to the cyclic dynamic change of the PC.
- (3)
- The PC of the USC in the early reclamation area in the stable stage was abnormally higher than that of the USC in the late reclamation area. Although the overall porosity of the early reclamation area USC was lower, its higher mesopores content, lower FD, and skeleton aggregation structure promoted the water flow effectively. It could be seen that, although the USC in the late-reclamation area suffered from the dredged load for a shorter time, it did not necessarily present high permeability and consolidation efficiency. The effects of pore structure, distribution, and complexity on permeability cannot be ignored, which is characterized by long-term and gradual change.
- (4)
- Even though particle migration is common in the clay seepage process, the USC in the early reclamation area had a stronger anti-clogging ability controlled by the different pore characteristics. When soil particles are intercepted by the pores, they may cover part of the pores or fill in the pores, both of which results in changing the pore distribution, so that the mesopores will be converted to small pores. Compared with offshore clay, this pore conversion rate was lower in inland clay, and the pore channels were relatively stable, allowing for more effective seepage.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Nomenclature
USC | underlying soft clay |
CES | Chongming East Shoal |
MIP | mercury intrusion porosimetry |
SEM | scanning electron microscope |
PC | permeability coefficient |
Dave | average pore diameter |
D50 | medium entrance pore diameter |
FD | fractal dimension |
CV | coefficient of variation |
AR(PC) | attenuation rate of permeability coefficient |
ACT | average cycle time |
SMA | small pores content |
MES | mesopores content |
MAC | macropores content |
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Sampling Hole | A | B | C | D | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sample | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 |
Natural density (g/cm3) | 1.82 | 1.84 | 1.77 | 1.76 | 1.78 |
Natural water content ω (%) | 38.1 | 38.4 | 37.1 | 48.41 | 49.14 |
Porosity (%) | 51.19 | 50.76 | 52.18 | 56.08 | 55.80 |
Sand (%) | 1.06 | 0.86 | 0.52 | 0.64 | 0.38 |
Silt (%) | 73.7 | 68.22 | 69.67 | 66.09 | 65.71 |
Clay (%) | 25.24 | 30.92 | 29.81 | 33.27 | 33.91 |
Liquid limit (%) | 47.69 | 43.04 | 45.32 | 52.4 | 58.87 |
Plasticity limit (%) | 18.51 | 24.46 | 28.02 | 30.33 | 25.8 |
Plasticity index | 29.18 | 18.58 | 17.3 | 22.07 | 33.07 |
Organic matter (%) | 0.23 | 0.44 | 0.67 | 0.18 | 0.26 |
Sample | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average cycle amplitude (cm/s) | 6.64 × 10−8 | 6.93 × 10−8 | 7.43 × 10−8 | 7.48 × 10−8 | 1.97 × 10−7 |
Average cycle time (s) | 226 | 253 | 247 | 268 | 371 |
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Yao, M.; Wang, Q.; Yu, Q.; Wu, J.; Li, H.; Dong, J.; Xia, W.; Han, Y.; Huang, X. Mechanism Study of Differential Permeability Evolution and Microscopic Pore Characteristics of Soft Clay under Saturated Seepage: A Case Study in Chongming East Shoal. Water 2023, 15, 968. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15050968
Yao M, Wang Q, Yu Q, Wu J, Li H, Dong J, Xia W, Han Y, Huang X. Mechanism Study of Differential Permeability Evolution and Microscopic Pore Characteristics of Soft Clay under Saturated Seepage: A Case Study in Chongming East Shoal. Water. 2023; 15(5):968. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15050968
Chicago/Turabian StyleYao, Meng, Qing Wang, Qingbo Yu, Jianzhong Wu, Hui Li, Jiaqi Dong, Weitong Xia, Yan Han, and Xinlei Huang. 2023. "Mechanism Study of Differential Permeability Evolution and Microscopic Pore Characteristics of Soft Clay under Saturated Seepage: A Case Study in Chongming East Shoal" Water 15, no. 5: 968. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15050968