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Engineering geological properties of Miocene hard clays along the middle line of the North–South Diversion Water Project in China

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Abstract

Miocene hard clays are widely distributed in eastern China and are associated with extensive damage to engineering structures. This paper presents the engineering geological properties of Miocene hard clays along the middle line of the North–South Diversion Water Project (NSDWP), including areas of the Nanyang Basin as well as the Fangcheng-Baofeng and Handan-Yongnian regions. Results of laboratory testing show that beneath the weathering zone the Miocene hard clays have similar engineering geological properties, including a high clay fraction with significant montmorillonite, high physico-chemical activity, high water content and high to very high shrink/swell. The effects of wetting and drying cycles on the swelling potential of the hard clays are summarized and attention drawn to the importance of these when considering excavation and construction.

Résumé

Les argiles raides du Miocène sont très répandus dans la Chine de l'est et sont la cause de dommages systématiques aux ouvrages du génie civil. Cet article présente les caractéristiques géotechniques de ces argiles, prélevées le long du secteur central du Projet Nord-Sud de Transfert Hydraulique (NSDWP), comprenant le bassin de Nanyang, ainsi que les régions de Fangcheng-Baofeng et Handan-Yongnian. Les résultats des essais de laboratoire montrent que, sous le niveau d'altération, les argiles raides du Miocène présentent des caractéristiques régulières, avec une fraction argileuse importante dans laquelle la Montmorillonite est bien représentée, une forte teneur en eau, une forte activité et un fort à très fort indice de retrait-gonflement. Les effets de cycles d'humidification-dessiccation sur le potentiel de gonflement des argiles raides sont présentés et l'importance de ce sujet est soulignée pour les travaux d'excavation et de construction.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 49872086 and 40102025).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, 11 Minzu Daxue Nanlu, 100081, Haidian District, Beijing , China

    Yongshuang Zhang & Shuren Wu

  2. Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100029, Beijing, China

    Yongxin Qu

  3. Huabei Senior Academy of Coal Mining, 101601, Beijing, China

    Guolin Liu

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  1. Yongshuang Zhang
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  2. Yongxin Qu
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  3. Guolin Liu
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  4. Shuren Wu
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Correspondence to Yongshuang Zhang.

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Zhang, Y., Qu, Y., Liu, G. et al. Engineering geological properties of Miocene hard clays along the middle line of the North–South Diversion Water Project in China. Bull Eng Geol Environ 62, 213–219 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-003-0195-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-003-0195-4

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