Abstract
The principles involved in using a geotechnical centrifuge to study long-term consolidation and seepage characteristics of an unconventional geotechnical material are described. Results are presented from long-term leaching tests that were performed in a 100 g-ton centrifuge to simulate 30 years of water flow through sludge material from a paper mill. The consolidation and permeability characteristics of these samples were tested, and the leachate flowing through the materials was collected and tested for chemical composition. Two sludges were tested and their behaviors were compared with those of a conventional clay material, also tested in a similar manner. The sludge material was found to be highly compressible and showed large reductions in permeability with time. Chemical analyses performed on the leachate collected after seepage through the sludge material indicated that the sludge material was suitable for the intended use. This same method of testing can also be used in testing new highway materials. The approach can provide information about the geotechnical and hydrological properties of the material and help identify the environmental characteristics by providing leachate for chemical analyses.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.