Abstract
Compacted clay materials are often used to form barriers for waste disposal by means of landfill. The performance of clay barrier depends on its permeability characteristics under the site environments. The study discusses permeability characteristics of 4 types of permeants through a compacted clayey soil. Permeabilities are measured using the modified rigid-wall permeater and with water, PEG, Ethanol, and TCE, ranging 80 to 3.4 of dielectric constants. Results of the study are as follows : 1) Absolute permeabilities of Ethanol and TCE that their dielectric constants are lower than that of water are $K=1.0{\times} 10^{-12} cm^2$, and $5.8{\times} 10^{-12} cm^2$, respectively, that is, 1.67, and 9.67 times of permeability of water, respectively. Absolute permeability and dielectric constant of water are $K=6{\times} 10^{-13} cm^2$, and 80, respectively. 2) Changes in absolute permeability of Ethanol and TCE converge to a constant after 3.5 pore volume of permeant flows through the clay sample. This can be explained that diffuse double layer of clay is no longer reacted with permeants and contracted their pores. However there is no change in absolute permeability when water is used as a per-meant. 3) It is found that absolute permeability in reversely proportional to the value of dielectric constant of the permeants. Change in absolute permeability of the permeants with 40 or over of dielectric constant is not significant. However change in absolute permeability of the permeant with 30 or lower dielectric constant is abruptly increased. 4) A lower absolute permeability of PEG is found because of its high viscosity.
