Abstract:
In Marine clays, the consolidation
phenomenon is a significant issue of concern. For this, an
innovative electrokinetic consolidation method was
adopted by coupling the conventional consolidation
technique with a constant voltage gradient. A series of tests
were performed on reconstituted marine clay samples for
constant loading intensity of 4kg/cm² coupled with a
constant DC voltage of 2, 4 and 6V. Various parameters
such as deformation, void ratio, current, pH, voltage and
moisture content were continuously monitored to compare
with test results of conventional Incremental loading (IL)
and constant loading (CL) techniques. In the case of
electrokinetic (EK) coupled loading, with an increase in
voltage gradient, the values obtained for voltage and
current were also increased to maximum and then
decreased afterwards. Microfabric changes were also
visible in soils collected at anode and cathode, which were
evidenced with the images of scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) data obtained before and after EK
consolidation tests when compared with original marine
clay. The constant loading intensity of 4kg/cm2 with a 4V
electric gradient resulted in higher compression and better
consolidation characteristics than other loading conditions.
