Non-mechanical behaviors of soft clay in two-dimensional
electro-osmotic c0nsolidation
Ying Li1, 2, 3*, Xiaonan Gong1, 2, Mengmeng Lu4, Yanli Tao1, 21 College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
2 MOE Key Laboratory of Soft Soil and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
3 Zhejiang Province Institute of Architectural Design and Research, Hangzhou, 310058, China
4 School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221008, China
Received 16 May 2011; received in revised form 14 November 2011; accepted 9 December 2011
Abstract: To investigate the soil behaviors in a direct current field on both spatial and temporal scales, a 1: 5 scale
model test was conducted in laboratory to simulate the two-dimensional (2D) electro-osmotic c0nsolidation of soft
clay foundation. Volume of drainage, intensity, voltage, water content and pH value of water collected in the
cathodes were monitored. The pH values of soil and the mass of anodes were measured before and after the test.
The test results indicate that the unsaturated state, resultant from fissures induced by the differences in water
contents, is favorable to dynamic compaction of soil during electro-osmotic drainage. The results also dem0nstrate
that water content, degree of saturation and electric potential distributi0ns can be used to deduce the electro-
osmotic drainage process. Water content of soil decreases first near electrodes, while keeps nearly c0nstant
in the center of the model. The area with c0nstant water content is larger than half of the sample surface.
Moving anodes towards cathodes by about one third of the electrode spacing is effective to improve the treatment
effect after electro-osmosis stops due to the large resistance. Moreover, it is observed that during electro-osmosis,
the corrosion rate of anodes becomes smaller, while the variation in pH values of soil near anodes becomes larger.
Key words: electro-osmotic c0nsolidation; soft clay; degree of saturation; voltage; pH value of soil; anode corrosion
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