Air-Water Interaction and Time Dependent Compressibility of a Subterranean Quarry Chalk (original) (raw)
In this paper the effect of suction and time on the mechanical response of a quarry chalk during eodometer tests is investigated. The water retention properties of the chalk, giving the changes in fluid content as a function of the suction applied, are studied and related to the changes in relative humidity in the quarry, chalk mineralogical composition and microstructure. Like in partially saturated geomaterials, it is recognised that chalk yielding is suction dependent, in that for decreasing suction (i.e. increasing water content) chalk softens. Preliminary results showing the effect of suction on the viscous behaviour of the chalk are also presented. The importance of the hydromechanical coupling associated to suction cycles and the induced cyclic changes in mechanical strength of chalk is emphasised, with regard to the long term behaviour of chalk pillars.
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