Significance of Corrections and Impact of Saline Pore Fluid on Kaolin

Abstract

Engineering behavior of fine-grained porous media, predominantly encountered in dredged sediments from ports, tailings from mining operations, and geoenvironmental barrier systems, are dictated by their microstructural parameters. As such, alteration in pore fluid chemistry induces changes in the fabric of fine-grained soils, which contributes to a modified geoengineering response. The present study assessed pore fluid salinity effects on gradational and index properties, linear volume change, and free swell behavior of a reference fine-grained geomaterial, kaolin. Flocculation of kaolin in saline pore fluids and subsequent changes in some of its properties are discussed in this paper. Furthermore, for studies involving geomaterials with saline pore fluids, differences arising out of results reported with reference to three-phased (soil solid–water–air) and four-phased (soil solid–salt–water–air) idealizations are also highlighted.