Microscopic Assessment of the Thermally Induced Volume Changes of Saturated Clays Using Discrete Element Method

• DOI: 10.1061/9780784482803.032
• Publication Date: 2020-02-21T11:18:51Z
• Authors: Karam A. Jaradat; Sherif L. Abdelaziz
• Keywords: 0211 other engineering and technologies; 02 engineering and technology

This paper explains the thermally induced volume changes in saturated normally consolidated clays using microscale changes. To achieve this goal, a discrete element model accounting for physico-chemical interactions between clay particles (i.e., van der Waals attractive and double layer repulsive forces) was employed study. The developed first validated against thermo-mechanical experimental results then it used to assess microstructural evolution of interparticle forces separation distances showed thermoplastic response. Such response justifies contractive strains typically observed clays.