Does long-term storage of clay samples influence their mechanical characteristics?

Abstract

The prime objective of this study is to assess the influence of long-term storage on the physical and mechanical characteristics of clay samples. Samples from two different clays were sealed and stored in a temperature- and humidity-controlled room at the geotechnical laboratory of the Université de Sherbrooke for up to 27 years. The stored clay samples were tested before and after long-term storage and the results compared in this note. The comparison showed that even with long-term storage, the majority of the physical and mechanical characteristics of the samples were preserved.