The influence of particle size distribution on soil physical properties

1986 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Towner
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
The Other ◽  
Saturated Soils ◽  
Fine Silt ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Field Behaviour

SummaryBatcombe series soils readily break down to good tilths, Beccles series soils form cloddy seed beds that are resistant to weathering, and Stackyard series soils form unstable tilths that readily break down. The soils differ in their particle-size distribution. The proposition that such differences contributed to the differences in field behaviour was examined by forming artificial soils, each of which was made up from particles of one of the soils, but redistributed with respect to size in the proportion in which they occurred in one of the other soils.As a measure of the relevant physical properties, breaking strengths and bulk densities of cylindrical ‘clods’ moulded from the artificial soils were determined. To aid interpretation of the observed soil properties, similar measurements were made on individual fractions, on various other mixtures and on the parent soils.The breaking strengths of the soils made up to a given particle-size distribution from particles from the different parent soils were reasonably close to each other, with those for the Beccles distribution being more variable. There was a significant difference between the two. The strength of the reconstituted Batcombe soil was markedly greater than that of its parent soil, whereas that for Beccles soil was markedly less. There was little difference for the Stackyard soil.The bulk densities of saturated soils reconstituted from all nine fractions could be estimated reasonably accurately from the properties of the separate components. The structure of each of these soils in the air-dry state was inferred from comparisons between measured and calculated bulk densities. The breaking strengths of air-dry reconstituted soils were estimated from the properties of the separate components, and agreed reasonably well with the measured values for soils in which the clay and fine silt fractions predominated.Whereas it was generally possible to predict various physical properties of the reconstituted soils from those of the separate fractions, it was not possible to extrapolate the results to explain field behaviour.

scholarly journals Variations in selected soil physical properties with landforms and slope within an inland valley ecosystem in Ashanti region of Ghana

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 73-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.E. Obalum ◽  
J.C. Nwite ◽  
J. Oppong ◽  
C.A. Igwe ◽  
T. Wakatsuki
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Silt Fraction ◽  
Inland Valley

One peculiar feature of the inland valleys abundant in West Africa is their site-specific hydrology, underlain mainly by the prevailing landforms and topography. Development and management of these land resources under the increasingly popular sawah (a system of bunded, puddled and levelled rice field with facilities for irrigation and drainage) technology is a promising opportunity for enhancing rice (Oryza sativa L.) production in the region. Information on the variations in selected soil physical properties as influenced by the prevailing landforms may serve as a useful guide in site selection. This is of practical importance since majority of the inland valleys are potentially unsuitable for sawah development and most farmers in the region are of low technical level. Three landforms (river levee, elevated area and depressed area) were identified within a sawah field located in an inland valley at Ahafo Ano South District of Ghana. Each of these landforms was topsoil-sampled along on identified gradient (top, mid and bottom slope positions). Parameters determined included particle size distribution, bulk density, total porosity and field moisture content. The soil is predominantly clayey. There were no variations in the particle size distribution among the slope positions in the river levee. Overall, the river levee had lower silt content than the elevated and the depressed landforms. The bulk density, total porosity, and gravimetric moisture content indicated relative improvements only in the depressed area in the order, bottom &gt; mid &gt; top slope. Irrespective of slope position, the three landforms differed in these parameters in the order, depressed &gt; river levee &gt; elevated. The sand fraction impacted negatively on the silt fraction and bulk density of the soil, both of which controlled the soil moisture status. Despite the fairly low silt content of the soil, the silt fraction strongly influenced the gravimetric moisture content (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.80). So too did the soil bulk density on the gravimetric moisture content (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.90). It is concluded that: (1) since the landforms more prominently influenced the measured parameters than the slope positions, the former should take pre-eminence over the latter in soil suitability judgment; (2) with respect to moisture retention, variations in silt fraction and bulk density of this and other clayey inland-valley soils should be used as guide in site selection for sawah development.

EFFECT OF REVERSE MICELLE WATER POOL IN SYNTHESIS OF ZIRCONIA STABILIZED COPPER NANOCOMPOSITE

2012 ◽  
Vol 05 ◽  
pp. 559-567
Author(s):  
H. Abdizadeh ◽  
Y. Vahidshad ◽  
H. R. Baharvandi ◽  
M. Akbari Baseri
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Anionic Surfactant ◽  
Reverse Micelle ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Molar Ratio ◽  
Water Pool ◽  
20 Nm

In the water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsions based on anionic (AOT) surfactants, the ω value (molar ratio of water to surfactant), precursor, and surfactant could remarkably affect the synthesis of CuO - ZrO 2 nanocomposite and the morphologies of the sol-gel products simultaneously. In this study, CuO - ZrO 2 nanoparticles are synthesized using microreactors made of surfactant/water/n-hexane microemulsions and discusses the effect of different microemulsion variables on the particle size and particle size distribution by water-to-surfactant molar ratio. The obtained powders are characterized by DTA, XRD, SEM, EDS, and TEM and their physical properties are compared. For AOT surfactant the particle size increased with increasing the water to surfactant molar ratio. The particles size of CuO - ZrO 2 nanocomposite in sample with anionic surfactant with molar ratio of 6 that calcined at 600°C is between 15-20 nm.

Experimental Study of Drilling Fluid's Filtration and Mud Cake Evolution in Sandstone Formations

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. Ezeakacha ◽  
S. Salehi ◽  
A. Hayatdavoudi
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Filter Cake ◽  
Drilling Fluid ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Fluid Loss ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Fluid Filtration ◽  
Significant Difference

In real time drilling, the complexity of drilling fluid filtration is majorly attributed to changing mud rheology, formation permeability, mud particle size distribution (PSD), filter cake plastering effects, and geochemical reaction of particles at geothermal conditions. This paper focuses on quantifying the major effects as well as revealing their contribution toward effective wellbore stabilization in sandstone formations. We conducted an extensive experimental and analytical study on this subject at different levels. First, we used field application and the results as guides for our experiments. We have considered both oil-based mud and water-based mud. Next, we optimized the mud particle size distribution (PSD) by carefully varying the type, size, and concentration of wellbore strengthening material (WSM). Laboratory high pressure high temperature fluid loss tests were carried out on Michigan and Bandera Brown sandstones. The results from these tests identify the formation heterogeneity and permeability in successful wellbore stabilization. Filter cake permeability calculations, using the analytical model for linear systems, were consistent with filtration rates, and the expected trend of permeability declines with time. Finally, we investigated the evolution of internal filter cake and plastering mechanism, using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis. The test results revealed a significant difference in the formation permeability impairment for the optimal mud PSD and WSM blend.

scholarly journals Influence of particle size distribution on the blast pressure profile from explosives buried in saturated soils

Shock Waves ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 613-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Rigby ◽  
S. D. Fay ◽  
A. Tyas ◽  
S. D. Clarke ◽  
J. J. Reay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Pressure Profile ◽  
Saturated Soils ◽  
Blast Pressure
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