A model for estimating the hydraulic conductivity of bentonite under various density conditions

Bentonite is an important material for low-permeability engineering systems used in dams and hazardous waste facilities. While models to characterize the hydraulic conductivity of bentonite have been developed in previous studies, these models were not applicable to various density conditions for Na- and Ca-bentonite. In this study, we present a new model for estimating the hydraulic conductivity of bentonite applicable to a wide range of density conditions for Na- and Ca-bentonite. In order to consider flow paths in compacted bentonite, a lamination structure of montmorillonite stacks was assumed. Our hydraulic model discriminated interlayer pores and other pores by applying a method for estimating the probability of connected pores and hydraulic coefficients governed by the plane Poiseuille flow equation. The model was consistent with the experimental data investigated in previous studies on the hydraulic conductivity of Na-bentonite and was in good agreement with the data of Ca-bentonite in the range of an effective montmorillonite density (ρem) at 500 kg/m3 ≤ ρem ≤ 1,500 kg/m3 and 600 kg/m3 ≤ ρem, respectively. However, some experimental values on Ca-bentonite under low-density conditions were far higher than the model results in the case where Ca-bentonite forms flow paths of relatively large pores.