Temperature effect on gypsum-bearing soil and supported (building) foundations: The case of the Central Storage Facility of Villar de Cañas, Spain

Alonso, J.; Moya, Marina; Navarro, Vicente; Asensio, Laura; Aguado, José A.

doi:10.1016/j.enggeo.2021.106049

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The prepared samples (the sample is a cylinder with a height of 80 mm and a base diameter of 39.1 mm) were placed in a chamber with a temperature of 25 ± 2 °C and a relative humidity of approximately 50%. The calculation methods of the initial salt and CLI contents are expressed as Formulas (1) and (2).…”

Section: Triaxial Compression Testmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Study on Mechanical Properties of Sulfate Saline Soil Improved by CLI-Type Polymer Active Agent

Zhu,

Yang,

Zheng

et al. 2023

Applied Sciences

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Large amounts of soluble salts in a soil enhance the soil sensitivity to changes in its properties induced by changes in environmental conditions, such as easy dissolution in water and easy occurrences of salt heaving in low-temperature environments, which make the soil volume swell rapidly, leading to a series of engineering disasters. Moreover, the growth and development of surface vegetation will be inhibited due to excessive salinity, resulting in a gradual decline in the ecological functionality of the area. A polymer active agent (CLI) was selected for the ecological improvement of sulfuric acid saline soils. Triaxial compression tests and a test on the soluble salt content of the treated soil were carried out to investigate the effects of polymer active agent content and maintenance time on the mechanical properties and soluble salt content of sulfate saline soils. The results showed that the addition of CLI can improve the soil strength by increasing the cohesion of the specimen, and the improvement increases significantly with the content of CLI and the curing age. Meanwhile, the calcium ions in CLI can react with sulfate ions in sulfate-salted soils to produce calcium sulfate precipitation to alleviate soil salinization. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicated that an appropriate content of CLI (about 8%) can strengthen the soil structure through an excellent chelating ability, enhancing the strength of the soil.

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Section: Triaxial Compression Testmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Globally, nearly one billion hm 2 of land is salinized [1,2], and the soil salinization area is still expanding [3]. Saline soils hurt the geotechnical application and environmental sustainability because of their collapsibility, salt swelling, and corrosiveness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study on Mechanical Properties of Sulfate Saline Soil Improved by CLI-Type Polymer Active Agent

Zhu,

Yang,

Zheng

et al. 2023

Applied Sciences

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“…The conceptual model was established based on the hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical conditions near the village of Villar de Cañas (Cuenca, Spain) within the Loranca Basin [71][72][73]. The basin contains mainly continental Tertiary deposits folded along with the underlying Mesozoic rocks [74].…”

Section: Conceptual Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here, we present a reactive transport model to study gypsum karstification in physically and chemically heterogeneous fractured evaporitic media and evaluate the long-term (1000 years) evolution of gypsum karstification. The models are based on the hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical conditions prevailing near Villar de Cañas in central Spain, where a site was investigated for its suitability for hosting an interim surface facility for high-level radioactive waste [71,72]. Numerical models account for the changes in porosity caused by mineral dissolution/precipitation and the associated effects on the flow, transport, and chemical parameters of the fractured medium.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reactive Transport Model of Gypsum Karstification in Physically and Chemically Heterogeneous Fractured Media

et al. 2022

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Gypsum dissolution leads to the development of karstic features within much shorter timescales than in other sedimentary rocks, potentially leading to rapid deterioration of groundwater quality and increasing the risk of catastrophes caused by subsidence. Here, we present a 2-D reactive transport model to evaluate gypsum karstification in physically and chemically heterogeneous systems. The model considers a low-permeability rock matrix composed mainly of gypsum and a discontinuity (fracture), which acts as a preferential water pathway. Several scenarios are analyzed and simulated to investigate the relevance for gypsum karstification of: (1) the dynamic update of flow and transport parameters due to porosity changes; (2) the spatial distribution of minerals in the rock matrix; (3) the time evolution of water inflows through the boundaries of the model; (4) the functions relating permeability, k, to porosity, ϕ. The average porosity of the matrix after 1000 years of simulation increases from 0.045 to 0.29 when flow, transport, and chemical parameters and the water inflows through the boundary are dynamically updated according to the porosity changes. On the contrary, the porosity of the matrix hardly changes when the porosity feedback effect is not considered, while its average increases to 0.13 if the water inflow occurs through the discontinuity. Moreover, the dissolution of small amounts of highly soluble sulfate minerals plays a major role in the development of additional fractures. The increase in hydraulic conductivity is largest for the power law with an exponent of n = 5, as well as the Kozeny-Carman and the modified Fair-atch k-ϕ relationships. The gypsum dissolution front propagates into the matrix faster when the power law with n = 2 and 3 and the Verma–Pruess k-ϕ relationships are used.

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“…The process leads to the crystallization of the mineral with the lower solubility (gypsum) which is thermodynamically more stable under the given conditions (e.g., [159]). Deeper insight into details and complex theoretical aspects of the processes of the anhydrite solution and gypsum crystallization and of the development of crystallization pressure is to be found in the publications by Steiger et al [138], Otálora and Garcia-Ruiz [162], Van Driessche et al [160], and Alonso et al [163].…”

Section: Conditions Of the Expansive Gypsification At Dingwallmentioning

confidence: 99%

Petrographic Record and Conditions of Expansive Hydration of Anhydrite in the Recent Weathering Zone at the Abandoned Dingwall Gypsum Quarry, Nova Scotia, Canada

et al. 2021

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In the Dingwall gypsum quarry in Nova Scotia, Canada, operating in 1933–1955, the bedrock anhydrite deposits of the Carboniferous Windsor Group have been uncovered from beneath the secondary gypsum beds of the extracted raw material. The anhydrite has been subjected to weathering undergoing hydration (gypsification), transforming into secondary gypsum due to contact with water of meteoric derivation. The ongoing gypsification is associated with a volume increase and deformation of the quarry bottom. The surface layer of the rocks is locally split from the substrate and raised, forming spectacular hydration relief. It shows numerous domes, ridges and tepee structures with empty internal chambers, some of which represent unique hydration caves (swelling caves, Quellungshöhlen). The petrographic structure of the weathering zone has been revealed by macro- and microscopic observations. It was recognized that gypsification commonly starts from a developing network of tiny fractures penetrating massive anhydrite. The gypsification advances from the fractures towards the interior of the anhydrite rocks, which are subdivided into blocks or nodules similar to corestones. Characteristic zones can be recognized at the contact of the anhydrite and the secondary gypsum: (1) massive and/or microporous anhydrite, (2) anhydrite penetrated by tiny gypsum veinlets separating the disturbed crystals and their fragments (commonly along cleavage planes), (3) gypsum with scattered anhydrite relics, and (4) secondary gypsum. The secondary gypsum crystals grow both by replacement and displacement, and also as cement. Displacive growth, evidenced by abundant deformation of the fragmented anhydrite crystals, is the direct cause of the volume increase. Crystallization pressure exerted by gypsum growth is thought to be the main factor generating volume increase and, consequently, also the formation of new fractures allowing water access to “fresh” massive anhydrite and thus accelerating its further hydration. The expansive hydration is taking place within temperature range from 0 to ~30 °C in which the solubility of gypsum is lower than that of anhydrite. In such conditions, dissolving anhydrite yields a solution supersaturated with gypsum and the dissolution of anhydrite is simultaneous with in situ replacive gypsum crystallization. Accompanying displacive growth leads to volume increase in the poorly confined environment of the weathering zone that is susceptible to upward expansion.

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Temperature effect on gypsum-bearing soil and supported (building) foundations: The case of the Central Storage Facility of Villar de Cañas, Spain

Cited by 3 publications

References 40 publications

Study on Mechanical Properties of Sulfate Saline Soil Improved by CLI-Type Polymer Active Agent

Study on Mechanical Properties of Sulfate Saline Soil Improved by CLI-Type Polymer Active Agent

Reactive Transport Model of Gypsum Karstification in Physically and Chemically Heterogeneous Fractured Media

Petrographic Record and Conditions of Expansive Hydration of Anhydrite in the Recent Weathering Zone at the Abandoned Dingwall Gypsum Quarry, Nova Scotia, Canada

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