TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON GEOTECHNICAL AND HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES OF BENTONITE HYDRATED WITH INORGANIC SALT SOLUTIONS
Keywords:
Bentonite, Hydraulic conductivity, Liquid limit, Swell index, Temperature effectsAbstract
This study investigated the combined effect of temperature and single-species salt solutions on
geotechnical properties (swell index and liquid limit) and hydraulic conductivity of bentonite applying different
cation types, concentrations, and temperatures. Results showed that both the swell index and the liquid limit
decreased with an increase in salt concentration irrespective of the type of cation. Monovalent cations showed
higher values of the swell index and the liquid limit compared to divalent cations. In general, the swell index of
bentonite increased whereas the liquid limit decreased with increasing temperature for all cation types and
concentrations. Significant and high correlations were found between swell index and liquid limit of bentonite at
all three temperatures. Hydraulic conductivity of bentonite was found to increase with increasing temperature.
No significant change in hydraulic conductivity with time was observed for all concentrations and cation types,
and, overall, concentration and valance of cations had little effect on the hydraulic conductivity of bentonite.