Impacts of Pre-contamination Moisture Content on Mechanical Properties of High-Plasticity Clay Contaminated with Used Engine Oil

Omar, KR; Fatahi, B; Nguyen, LD

Impacts of Pre-contamination Moisture Content on Mechanical Properties of High-Plasticity Clay Contaminated with Used Engine Oil

Omar, KR Fatahi, B

Nguyen, LD

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Publisher:: AMER SOC TESTING MATERIALS
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Testing and Evaluation, 2022, 50, (6), pp. 3001-3027
Issue Date:: 2022-11-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Omar, KR
dc.contributor.author	Fatahi, B https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7920-6946
dc.contributor.author	Nguyen, LD
dc.date.accessioned	2023-01-31T07:17:15Z
dc.date.available	2023-01-31T07:17:15Z
dc.date.issued	2022-11-01
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Testing and Evaluation, 2022, 50, (6), pp. 3001-3027
dc.identifier.issn	0090-3973
dc.identifier.issn	1945-7553
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/165688
dc.description.abstract	The oil contamination of soils and the remediation techniques to enhance the engineering properties of the ground have been an emerging challenge in the geoenvironmental field. While several studies were conducted to examine the behavior of the contaminated granular soils, little is known about the mechanical properties of the oil-contaminated clays. This paper investigates the impacts of the in situ pre-contamination moisture content (PMC) on the behavior of fine-grained soil contaminated with various levels of used engine oil. Extensive laboratory experiments were performed on sandy clay with different initial moisture conditions and various amounts of used engine oil varying from 0 to 16 %. The experimental results, including the Atterberg limits, linear shrinkage (LS), unconfined compressive strength, shear strength, and small-strain shear modulus in conjunction with microstructural image analysis, were reported and discussed. It is observed that when oil content was increased, both LS and plastic limit (PL) increased while the liquid limit decreased in the contaminated soil. Moreover, the inclusion of engine oil contributed to the reduction in the plasticity index, which was also impacted by the PMC of the soil. An increment in the PL was correlated with a significant decrease in shear strength, shear modulus, and other associated parameters such as friction angle and cohesion. In agreement with the results, a broader range of elasticity and improved stability at the microstructure level was associated with a lower pre-contamination water content (PMC). Overall, this paper shows that knowledge of site moisture levels before contamination is essential to evaluate the implications of contamination by used engine oil.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	AMER SOC TESTING MATERIALS
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Testing and Evaluation
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1520/JTE20210477
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.subject	0912 Materials Engineering, 0913 Mechanical Engineering
dc.subject.classification	Mechanical Engineering & Transports
dc.title	Impacts of Pre-contamination Moisture Content on Mechanical Properties of High-Plasticity Clay Contaminated with Used Engine Oil
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	50
utslib.for	0912 Materials Engineering
utslib.for	0913 Mechanical Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CBI - Centre for Built Infrastructure
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
utslib.copyright.embargo	2023-08-08T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2023-01-31T07:17:14Z
pubs.issue	6
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	50
utslib.citation.issue	6

Abstract:

The oil contamination of soils and the remediation techniques to enhance the engineering properties of the ground have been an emerging challenge in the geoenvironmental field. While several studies were conducted to examine the behavior of the contaminated granular soils, little is known about the mechanical properties of the oil-contaminated clays. This paper investigates the impacts of the in situ pre-contamination moisture content (PMC) on the behavior of fine-grained soil contaminated with various levels of used engine oil. Extensive laboratory experiments were performed on sandy clay with different initial moisture conditions and various amounts of used engine oil varying from 0 to 16 %. The experimental results, including the Atterberg limits, linear shrinkage (LS), unconfined compressive strength, shear strength, and small-strain shear modulus in conjunction with microstructural image analysis, were reported and discussed. It is observed that when oil content was increased, both LS and plastic limit (PL) increased while the liquid limit decreased in the contaminated soil. Moreover, the inclusion of engine oil contributed to the reduction in the plasticity index, which was also impacted by the PMC of the soil. An increment in the PL was correlated with a significant decrease in shear strength, shear modulus, and other associated parameters such as friction angle and cohesion. In agreement with the results, a broader range of elasticity and improved stability at the microstructure level was associated with a lower pre-contamination water content (PMC). Overall, this paper shows that knowledge of site moisture levels before contamination is essential to evaluate the implications of contamination by used engine oil.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/165688