Desiccation Cracking Behavior of Carbon Microfiber Reinforced Bentonite Clay for Deep Geological Repositories.
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| Title: | Desiccation Cracking Behavior of Carbon Microfiber Reinforced Bentonite Clay for Deep Geological Repositories. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Azzam, Abdullah1 (AUTHOR), Kim, Yong-Rak1 (AUTHOR) yong-rak.kim@tamu.edu, Rahmani, Mohammad1 (AUTHOR), Eun, Jongwan2 (AUTHOR), Kim, Seunghee3 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Geotechnical & Geological Engineering. Mar2026, Vol. 44 Issue 2, p1-19. 19p. |
| Abstract: | Soil desiccation is a widely observed phenomenon that significantly affects soil integrity and hydromechanical behavior. Bentonite clay is considered the most promising material to be used as an engineered barrier material (EBM) for nuclear waste storage in deep geological repositories. However, bentonite desiccation raises a concern as it can create pathways for water to reach the canister and corrode it, causing potential leakage of nuclear waste and contamination of groundwater. Usage of inorganic fiber reinforcement can be effective in mitigating desiccation phenomena and minimizing desiccation cracking. This study investigates the effect of carbon microfiber reinforcement on bentonite clay desiccation behavior and internal microstructure change due to desiccation. We designed and conducted restrained ring and unrestrained disc free shrinkage tests coupled with digital image correlation and X-ray computed tomography (CT). Bentonite samples with carbon microfiber by varying length (12.5 and 25 mm) and content (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% wt) mixed at 40% moisture content were prepared and tested at an ambient condition. Results showed that the shrinkage and desiccation behavior between plain bentonite and carbon microfiber-reinforced bentonite was significantly changed, while a marginal effect was observed on moisture loss. Microfiber reduced the extent of macrocracks observed in the plain bentonite case and induced microcracks, as demonstrated by X-ray CT images that are aligned with digital image correlation surface images over the period of desiccation. Among the dosages attempted in this study, 1.0% reinforcement was better than 0.5%, and greater than 1.0% does not help much due to fiber entanglement during the mixing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Geotechnical & Geological Engineering is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 191363956 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Desiccation Cracking Behavior of Carbon Microfiber Reinforced Bentonite Clay for Deep Geological Repositories. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Azzam%2C+Abdullah%22">Azzam, Abdullah</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kim%2C+Yong-Rak%22">Kim, Yong-Rak</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> yong-rak.kim@tamu.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rahmani%2C+Mohammad%22">Rahmani, Mohammad</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Eun%2C+Jongwan%22">Eun, Jongwan</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kim%2C+Seunghee%22">Kim, Seunghee</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Geotechnical+%26+Geological+Engineering%22">Geotechnical & Geological Engineering</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 44 Issue 2, p1-19. 19p. – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Soil desiccation is a widely observed phenomenon that significantly affects soil integrity and hydromechanical behavior. Bentonite clay is considered the most promising material to be used as an engineered barrier material (EBM) for nuclear waste storage in deep geological repositories. However, bentonite desiccation raises a concern as it can create pathways for water to reach the canister and corrode it, causing potential leakage of nuclear waste and contamination of groundwater. Usage of inorganic fiber reinforcement can be effective in mitigating desiccation phenomena and minimizing desiccation cracking. This study investigates the effect of carbon microfiber reinforcement on bentonite clay desiccation behavior and internal microstructure change due to desiccation. We designed and conducted restrained ring and unrestrained disc free shrinkage tests coupled with digital image correlation and X-ray computed tomography (CT). Bentonite samples with carbon microfiber by varying length (12.5 and 25 mm) and content (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% wt) mixed at 40% moisture content were prepared and tested at an ambient condition. Results showed that the shrinkage and desiccation behavior between plain bentonite and carbon microfiber-reinforced bentonite was significantly changed, while a marginal effect was observed on moisture loss. Microfiber reduced the extent of macrocracks observed in the plain bentonite case and induced microcracks, as demonstrated by X-ray CT images that are aligned with digital image correlation surface images over the period of desiccation. Among the dosages attempted in this study, 1.0% reinforcement was better than 0.5%, and greater than 1.0% does not help much due to fiber entanglement during the mixing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Geotechnical & Geological Engineering is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1007/s10706-026-03621-9 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 19 StartPage: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Desiccation Cracking Behavior of Carbon Microfiber Reinforced Bentonite Clay for Deep Geological Repositories. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Azzam, Abdullah – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Kim, Yong-Rak – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Rahmani, Mohammad – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Eun, Jongwan – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Kim, Seunghee IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Text: Mar2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 09603182 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 44 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Geotechnical & Geological Engineering Type: main |
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