Abstract

Transparent soil has been investigated for its potential as a substitute research media for natural soil. The mechanism for manufacturing the transparent soil is through adding an appropriate pore fluid to silica gel particles with the same refractive index. Two types of high viscosity pore fluids were identified by Iskander in 1994. However, because of the high viscosity of these two pore fluids, air was easily entrapped, which made the manufacture of a large mass of transparent soil difficult. In addition, the identified pore fluids caused serious membrane deterioration during triaxial laboratory testing. This research presented herein is an experimental investigation on low viscosity pore fluids to manufacture transparent soil, including the fluid/particle interaction in the stimulant matrix. Two low viscosity pore fluids were identified with minimum interaction with latex membranes.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
low viscosity pore fluids, transparent soil, silica gel, refractive index

References

1.
ASTM D445-09,
2009
, “
Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity)
,” Annual Book of ASTM Standards, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.
2.
ASTM D543-06,
2006
, “
Standard Practices for Evaluating the Resistance of Plastics to Chemical Reagents
,” Annual Book of ASTM Standards, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.
3.
Iskander
,
M.
,
Lai
,
J.
,
Oswald
,
C.
, and
Mainnheimer
,
R.
,
1994
, “
Development of a Transparent Material to Model the Geotechnical Properties of Soils
,”
Geotech. Test. J.
 0149-6115, Vol.
17
(
4
), pp.
425
–
433
. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ10303J
4.
Iskander
,
M.
,
Liu
,
J.
, and
Sadek
,
S.
,
2002
, “
Transparent Silica Gels to Model the Geotechnical Properties of Sand
,”
Int. J. Phys. Modell. Geotech.
 1346-213X, Vol.
2
(
4
), pp.
27
–
40
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
5.
Iskander
,
M.
,
Liu
,
J.
, and
Sadek
,
S.
,
2002
, “
Transparent Amorphous Silica to Model clay
,”
J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng.
 1090-0241, Vol.
128
(
3
), pp.
262
–
273
. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2002)128:3(262)
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
6.
Mallinckrodt Baker, Inc.
,
2009
, Summary of Key Physical Data for Baker Analyzed HPLC Solvents, http://www.mallbaker.com/conversion/solventphydata.htm (Last accessed Sept. 19, 2009).
7.
Mannheimer
,
R. J.
 and
Oswald
,
C.
,
1993
, “
Development of Transparent Porous Media with Permeabilities and Porosities Comparable to Soils, Aquifers and Petroleum Reservoirs
,”
Ground Water
 0017-467X, Vol.
31
(
5
), pp.
781
–
788
. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1993.tb00851.x
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
8.
Sadek
,
S.
,
Iskander
,
M. G.
, and
Liu
,
J.
,
2002
, “
Geotechnical Properties of Transparent Silica
,”
Can. Geotech. J.
 0008-3674, Vol.
39
(
1
), pp.
111
–
124
. https://doi.org/10.1139/t01-075
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
9.
Sadek
,
S.
,
Iskander
,
M. G.
, and
Liu
,
J.
,
2003
, “
Accuracy of Digital Image Correlation for Measuring Deformations in Transparent Media
,”
J. Comput. Civ. Eng.
 0887-3801, Vol.
17
(
2
), pp.
88
–
96
. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0887-3801(2003)17:2(88)
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
10.
Song
,
Z.
 and
Hu
,
Y.
,
2009
, “
Plate Anchor Keying Under Inclined Pullout in Clay: Observation and Estimation
,”
Proc. XVII ICSMGE
, Alexandria,
Millpress Science Publication
,
Alexandria, Egypt
, pp.
708
–
711
.
11.
Toiya
,
M.
,
Hettinga
,
J.
, and
Losert
,
W.
,
2007
, “
3D Imaging of Particle Motion During Penetrometer Testing
,”
Granular Matter
 1434-5021, Vol.
9
, pp.
323
–
329
. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-007-0044-4
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
12.
Welker
,
A. L.
,
Bowders
,
J. J.
, and
Gilbert
,
R. B.
,
1999
, “
Applied Research Using a Transparent Material with Hydraulic Properties Similar to Soil
,”
Geotech. Test. J.
 0149-6115, Vol.
22
(
3
), pp.
266
–
270
. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ11117J
This content is only available via PDF.
All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or copied, in whole or in part, in any printed, mechanical, electronic, film, or other distribution and storage media, without the written consent of ASTM International.
You do not currently have access to this content.