• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.707-721
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• 2017

The objective of this paper is to experimentally study the consolidation of saturated silty clay subjected to repeated heating-cooling cycles using a modified temperature-controlled triaxial apparatus. Focus is placed on the influence of the water content, confining pressure, and magnitudes and number of thermal loading cycles. The experimental results show that the thermally induced pore pressure increases with increasing water content and magnitude of thermal loading in undrained conditions. After isothermal consolidation at an elevated temperature, the pore pressure continues to decrease and gradually falls below zero during undrained cooling, and the maximum negative pore pressure increases as the water content decreases or the magnitude of thermal loading increases. During isothermal consolidation at ambient temperature after one heating-cooling cycle, the pore pressure begins to rise due to water absorption and finally stabilizes at approximately zero. As the number of thermal loading cycles increases, the thermally induced pore pressure shows a degrading trend, which seems to be more apparent under a higher confining pressure. Overall, the specimens tested show an obvious volume reduction at the completion of a series of heating-cooling cycles, indicating a notable irreversible thermal consolidation deformation.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.561-573
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• 2020

The creep and consolidation behaviors of clays subjected to thermal cycles are of fundamental importance in the application of energy geostructures. This study aims to numerically investigate the physical mechanisms for the temperature-triggered volume change of saturated clays. A recently developed thermodynamic framework is used to derive the thermo-mechanical constitutive model for clays. Based on the model, a fully coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) finite element (FE) code is developed. Comparison with experimental observations shows that the proposed FE code can well reproduce the irreversible thermal contraction of normally consolidated and lightly overconsolidated clays, as well as the thermal expansion of heavily overconsolidated clays under drained heating. Simulations reveal that excess pore pressure may accumulate in clay samples under triaxial drained conditions due to low permeability and high heating rate, resulting in thermally induced primary consolidation. Results show that four major mechanisms contribute to the thermal volume change of clays: (i) the principle of thermal expansion, (ii) the decrease of effective stress due to the accumulation of excess pore pressure, (iii) the thermal creep, and (iv) the thermally induced primary consolidation. The former two mechanisms mainly contribute to the thermal expansion of heavily overconsolidated clays, whereas the latter two contribute to the noticeable thermal contraction of normally consolidated and lightly overconsolidated clays. Consideration of the four physical mechanisms is important for the settlement prediction of energy geostructures, especially in soft soils.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.471-478
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• 2022

Creep of soils has a significant impact on mechanical properties. The one-dimensional consolidation creep test, thermal analysis test, scanning electron microscope (SEM) test, and mercury compression test were performed on Guilin red clay to study the changes in bound water and microstructure during the creep process of Guilin red clay. According to the results of the tests, only free and weakly bound water is discharged during the creep of Guilin red clay. When the consolidation pressure p is in the 12.5-400.0 kPa range, it is primarily the discharge of free water; when the consolidation pressure p is in the 800.0-1600.0 kPa range, the weakly bound water is converted to free water and discharged. After consolidation creep, the microstructure of soil changes from granular overhead contact structure to flat sheet-like stacking structure, with a decrease in the number of large and medium pores, an increase in the number of small and micro pores, and a decrease in the fractal dimension of pores. The creep process of red clay is the discharge of weakly bound water as well as the compression of large pores into small pores and the transition of soil particles from loose to dense.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.21-27
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• 2012

Estimating the thermal conductivity of clayey soils is important for enhancing the performance of geoengineering structures in cold regions and clay barriers for nuclear waste repositories, but specimen disturbance, saturation, and heat boundary conditions of the test apparatus hinder reliable measurements of the thermal conductivity of saturated clayey soils. This paper presents the results of an experimental study carried out using modified consolidation tests with the needle probe method to measure thermal conductivity. Experimental consolidation tests with saturated kaolinite were performed to investigate the effect of effective stress and dry density on thermal conductivity for saturated kaolinite. In addition, thermal conductivity of soil particles were thoroughly investigated and experimental results were used to evaluate the accuracy of the models to predict thermal conductivity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.454-456
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• 2009

N-Type $SbI_3$ doped $95%Bi_2Te_3+5%\;Bi_2Se_3$ compounds were newly fabricated by the combination of gas atomization process and Magnetic Pulsed Compaction process. The thermoelectric properties of the MPCed bulks according to consolidation temperatures were investigated by a combination of microscopy, XRD and thermoelectric property testing. The microstructure of MPCed bulk shows homogeneous and fine distribution through consolidated bulks due to the high solidification of compound powders. The research presented the challenges toward the successful consolidation of thermoelectric powder using magnetic pulsed compaction (MPC) and analysis of thermoelectric properties of the consolidated bulks.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2011

Experimental tests have been performed to measure the thermal conductivity of unsaturated soils, and computational models have been widely used to predict thermal conductivity. However, measured values of the thermal conductivity of unsaturated soils cannot be compared with predicted values because of the gradient in moisture content within unsaturated soils. In this study, experimental consolidation tests on saturated unfrozen kaolinite were performed to investigate the effect of dry density and moisture content on thermal conductivity. The results were used to evaluate the validity of a model employed to calculate thermal conductivity.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.2853-2865
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• 2000

During the curing process of thick glass/epoxy laminates, a substantial amount of temperature lag and overshoot at the center of the laminates is usually experienced due to the large thickness and low thermal conductivity of the glass/epoxy composites. Also, it takes a longer time for full and uniform consolidation. In this work, temperature, degree of cure and consolidation of a 20 mm thick unidirectional glass/epoxy laminate were investigated using an experiment and a 3-dimentional numerical analysis. From the experimental and numerical results, it was found that the experimentally obtained temperature profile agreed well with the numerical one, and the cure cycle recommended by the prepreg manufacturer should be modified to prevent a temperature overshoot and to obtain full consolidation.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.275-281
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• 2012

Thermal distribution in soils must be considered in engineering designs and constructions, including estimates of frost heave and thaw settlement, infrastructure in cold regions, and geothermal systems. Because thermal conductivity is a key parameter for evaluation of thermal distribution in soils, it must be accurately estimated. The thermal conductivity of fine-grained soils has been widely studied in recent years; however, few studies have reported a reliable method for experimental measurement. The present study presents the results of an experimental investigation of the thermal conductivity of a saturated kaolinite-silica mixture with respect to the variation of dry density. Thermal conductivities were measured in Constant Rate of Strain (CRS) consolidation tests, and the experimental data were analyzed to evaluate the accuracy of the new measurement system. In addition, we present an evaluation method for predicting thermal conductivity in fine-grained soils.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.53-58
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• 2000

During the curing process of thick glass/epoxy laminates, a substantial amount of temperature lag and overshoot at the center of the laminates is usually experienced due to the large thickness and low thermal conductivity of the glass/epoxy composites. Also, it requires a longer time for full and uniform consolidation. In this work, temperature, degree of cure and consolidation of a 20mm thick unidirectional glass/epoxy laminate were investigated using an experiment and a 3-dimentional numerical analysis considering the exothermic reaction. From the experimental and numerical results, it was found that the experimentally obtained temperature profile agreed well with the numerical one and the cure cycle recommended by the prepreg manufacturer should be modified to prevent a temperature overshoot and to obtain full consolidation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09b
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• pp.950-951
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• 2006

[ $Mg_{55}Y_{15}Cu_{30}$ ] metallic glass powders were prepared by the mechanical alloying of pure Mg, Y, and Cu after 10 h of milling. The thermal stability of these $Mg_{55}Y_{15}Cu_{30}$ amorphous powders was investigated using the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). $T_g$, $T_x$, and ${\Delta}T_x$ are 442 K, 478 K, and 36 K, respectively. The as-milled $Mg_{55}Y_{15}Cu_{30}$ powders were then consolidated by vacuum hot pressing into disk compacts with a diameter and thickness of 10 mm and 1 mm, respectively. This yielded bulk $Mg_{55}Y_{15}Cu_{30}$ metallic glass with nanocrystalline precipitates homogeneously embedded in a highly dense glassy matrix. The pressure applied during consolidation can enhance thermal stability and prolong the existence of amorphous phase within $Mg_{55}Y_{15}Cu_{30}$ powders.