Publication

Assessment of structural evolution of aggregated soil using neutron tomography

Lyesse Laloui, Laurent Vulliet, Azad Koliji
2008
Journal Articles

Abstract

The advanced non-destructive method of neutron tomography, together with image analysis, is used to evaluate the structural evolution of an aggregated soil during one-dimensional compression tests. Aggregation of primary particles is a commonly observed phenomenon in natural and compacted soils that causes an open soil structure with two dominant pore sizes corresponding to macro (inter-aggregates) and micro (intra-aggregate) pores. The evolution of macro porosity and the degradation of structures are evaluated by means of morphological parameters such as volume fraction, size distribution and chord length. Change in the structure is then linked to the macroscopic soil response. It is observed that the major structural modifications are associated with irreversible strains in soil.

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/028f9369-e426-4334-b3e0-bda4d857841d

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Lyesse Laloui, Laurent Vulliet, Azad Koliji
2008
Journal Articles

Abstract

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/028f9369-e426-4334-b3e0-bda4d857841d

About this result

Related concepts (28)

Soil

Soil, also commonly referred to as earth, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life of plants and soil organisms. Some scientific definitions distinguish dirt from soil by restricting the former term specifically to displaced soil. Soil consists of a solid phase of minerals and organic matter (the soil matrix), as well as a porous phase that holds gases (the soil atmosphere) and water (the soil solution). Accordingly, soil is a three-state system of solids, liquids, and gases.

Soil conditioner

A soil conditioner is a product which is added to soil to improve the soil’s physical qualities, usually its fertility (ability to provide nutrition for plants) and sometimes its mechanics. In general usage, the term "soil conditioner" is often thought of as a subset of the category soil amendments (or soil improvement, soil condition), which more often is understood to include a wide range of fertilizers and non-organic materials. Soil conditioners can be used to improve poor soils, or to rebuild soils which have been damaged by improper soil management.

Soil carbon

Soil carbon is the solid carbon stored in global soils. This includes both soil organic matter and inorganic carbon as carbonate minerals. It is vital to the soil capacity in our ecosystem. Soil carbon is a carbon sink in regard to the global carbon cycle, playing a role in biogeochemistry, climate change mitigation, and constructing global climate models. Natural variation such as organisms and time has affected the management of carbon in the soils. The major influence has been that of human activities which has caused a massive loss of soil organic carbon.

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