Consolidation Assessment of Marine Clay Using Electrokinetic Coupled with Constant Load

Abstract

In Marine clays, the consolidation phenomenon is a significant issue of concern. For this, an innovative electrokinetic consolidation method was adopted by coupling the conventional consolidation technique with a constant voltage gradient. A series of tests were performed on reconstituted marine clay samples for constant loading intensity of 4kg/cm² coupled with a constant DC voltage of 2, 4 and 6V. Various parameters such as deformation, void ratio, current, pH, voltage and moisture content were continuously monitored to compare with test results of conventional Incremental loading (IL) and constant loading (CL) techniques. In the case of electrokinetic (EK) coupled loading, with an increase in voltage gradient, the values obtained for voltage and current were also increased to maximum and then decreased afterwards. Microfabric changes were also visible in soils collected at anode and cathode, which were evidenced with the images of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) data obtained before and after EK consolidation tests when compared with original marine clay. The constant loading intensity of 4kg/cm2 with a 4V electric gradient resulted in higher compression and better consolidation characteristics than other loading conditions.