Stress-dependent flow through fractured clay till: A laboratory study

John E. Sims; Derek Elsworth; John A. Cherry

doi:10.1139/t96-066

Stress-dependent flow through fractured clay till: A laboratory study

John E. Sims, Derek Elsworth, John A. Cherry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Stress-dependent hydraulic conductivities of weathered fractured clay till were measured in a flexible-wall permeameter. Measured conductivities were in the range 10^-7 to 10^-8 cm/s, of the same order as the clay matrix (10^-8 cm/s), and representing equivalent hydraulic apertures in the range 0-5 μm. In general, the isolated fractures exhibited strongly nonlinear closure characteristics and hysteretic behaviour under stress reversal. Some fracture samples exhibited only weak stress dependency, representing observable features of only nominal conductivity. Results of the investigations suggest fractures are closed to residual aperture for an overburden load of the order of 12 m, this defining an effective closure depth and the degree of maximum useful compactive effort that might be applied to "seal" fractures and reduce fluid migration.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	449-457
Number of pages	9
Journal	Canadian Geotechnical Journal
Volume	33
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1139/t96-066
State	Published - Jun 1996

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Civil and Structural Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

Access to Document

10.1139/t96-066

Cite this

@article{c1e8dcb1b71f4b108038f8459c816e33,

title = "Stress-dependent flow through fractured clay till: A laboratory study",

abstract = "Stress-dependent hydraulic conductivities of weathered fractured clay till were measured in a flexible-wall permeameter. Measured conductivities were in the range 10-7 to 10-8 cm/s, of the same order as the clay matrix (10-8 cm/s), and representing equivalent hydraulic apertures in the range 0-5 μm. In general, the isolated fractures exhibited strongly nonlinear closure characteristics and hysteretic behaviour under stress reversal. Some fracture samples exhibited only weak stress dependency, representing observable features of only nominal conductivity. Results of the investigations suggest fractures are closed to residual aperture for an overburden load of the order of 12 m, this defining an effective closure depth and the degree of maximum useful compactive effort that might be applied to {"}seal{"} fractures and reduce fluid migration.",

author = "Sims, {John E.} and Derek Elsworth and Cherry, {John A.}",

year = "1996",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1139/t96-066",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "33",

pages = "449--457",

journal = "Canadian Geotechnical Journal",

issn = "0008-3674",

publisher = "Canadian Science Publishing",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Stress-dependent flow through fractured clay till

T2 - A laboratory study

AU - Sims, John E.

AU - Elsworth, Derek

AU - Cherry, John A.

PY - 1996/6

Y1 - 1996/6

N2 - Stress-dependent hydraulic conductivities of weathered fractured clay till were measured in a flexible-wall permeameter. Measured conductivities were in the range 10-7 to 10-8 cm/s, of the same order as the clay matrix (10-8 cm/s), and representing equivalent hydraulic apertures in the range 0-5 μm. In general, the isolated fractures exhibited strongly nonlinear closure characteristics and hysteretic behaviour under stress reversal. Some fracture samples exhibited only weak stress dependency, representing observable features of only nominal conductivity. Results of the investigations suggest fractures are closed to residual aperture for an overburden load of the order of 12 m, this defining an effective closure depth and the degree of maximum useful compactive effort that might be applied to "seal" fractures and reduce fluid migration.

AB - Stress-dependent hydraulic conductivities of weathered fractured clay till were measured in a flexible-wall permeameter. Measured conductivities were in the range 10-7 to 10-8 cm/s, of the same order as the clay matrix (10-8 cm/s), and representing equivalent hydraulic apertures in the range 0-5 μm. In general, the isolated fractures exhibited strongly nonlinear closure characteristics and hysteretic behaviour under stress reversal. Some fracture samples exhibited only weak stress dependency, representing observable features of only nominal conductivity. Results of the investigations suggest fractures are closed to residual aperture for an overburden load of the order of 12 m, this defining an effective closure depth and the degree of maximum useful compactive effort that might be applied to "seal" fractures and reduce fluid migration.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030153184&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0030153184&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1139/t96-066

DO - 10.1139/t96-066

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0030153184

SN - 0008-3674

VL - 33

SP - 449

EP - 457

JO - Canadian Geotechnical Journal

JF - Canadian Geotechnical Journal

IS - 3

ER -

Stress-dependent flow through fractured clay till: A laboratory study

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this