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Rubberized Asphalt for Sealing Cores of Shrinking Soil
Author(s) -
Kluitenberg G. J.,
Bilskie J. R.,
Horton R.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1991.03615995005500050051x
Subject(s) - shrinkage , asphalt , seal (emblem) , soil water , environmental science , geotechnical engineering , permeability (electromagnetism) , soil structure , soil test , materials science , soil science , composite material , geology , chemistry , art , visual arts , biochemistry , membrane
Because many soil materials shrink as a result of soil water desorption, it is difficult to seal soil samples into containers for transport experiments when a range of soil matric potentials is to be used. In this note, we introduce the use of a rubberized asphalt product that is capable of changing shape so that a seal between the container and the soil sample can be maintained as the soil shrinks. An experiment was conducted in which the air permeability of two soil materials was measured at a series of soil matric potentials after being sealed with rubberized asphalt or paraffin. The results indicate that the asphalt was able to maintain a better seal than the rigid paraffin as the soil materials dried and shrank. Seal integrity of the asphalt was maintained as matric potentials were reduced from −50 kPa to −750 kPa for soils of moderate and high shrinkage capacity. In contrast, the air‐permeability data indicate that the paraffin failed to provide an adequate seal at −50 kPa, even before the soil was desorbed.