Published May 16, 2022 | Version v1
Journal article Open

Numerical analysis of soil desaturation by an air injection method

Authors/Creators

  • 1. Universidad de Antioquia

Contributors

  • 1. Universidad de Antioquia

Description

A numerical analysis is conducted to evaluate the effective radius of air advance (Reff) in coarse-grained, saturated, sandy deposits improved by means of air injection (i.e., soil desaturation). It is well-known that the cyclic resistance to liquefaction of a saturated sandy deposit is highly affected by the presence of gas in the void space. A parametric study is performed to investigate the soil’s main hydraulic parameters and air-injection conditions of the transient gas affecting Reff and controlling the desaturation process. The effects of the a) soil-water characteristic curve, b) intrinsic permeability, c) injection pressure, and d) duration of air injection are investigated. It is shown that the injection pressure and soil’s intrinsic permeability are the main factors influencing the extent of Reff. The analysed cases showed that, for a fixed injection pressure, the soil will achieve a maximum value for Reff. This threshold value is reached more rapidly when the soil’s intrinsic permeability increases. The results aim to shorten existing knowledge gaps and contribute to the development of design methodologies for air-injection desaturation techniques.

Files

3. 345673.pdf

Files (1.0 MB)

Name Size Download all
md5:cbf3cc435ae20726a4bbf1df2382e797
1.0 MB Preview Download

Additional details

References

  • R. B. Seed, K. O. Cetin, R. E. S. Moss, A. M. Kammerer, J. Wu, and et al., "Recent advances in soil liquefaction engineering: A unified and consistent framework," in Proceedings of the 26th Annual ASCE Los Angeles Geotechnical Spring, Long Beach, CA, 2003, pp. 1–72.
  • J. T. Dejong, K. Soga, E. Kavazanjian, S. Burns, and L. A. Van, "Biogeochemical processes and geotechnical applications: progress, opportunities and challenges," Géotechnique, vol. 63, no. 4, Mar. 2013. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.SIP13.P.017
  • P. Gallagher, A. Pamuk, and T. Abdoun, "Stabilization of liquefiable soils using colloidal silica grout," Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, vol. 19, no. 1, Jan. 01, 2007. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0899-1561(2007)19:1(33)
  • M. Ishihara, M. Okamura, and T. Oshita, "Desaturating sand deposit by air injection for reducing liquefaction potential," in 2003 Pacific Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Tsukuba, JA, 2003, pp. 1–6.
  • M. Okamura and Y. Soga, "Effects of pore fluid compressibility on liquefaction resistance of partially saturated sand," Soils and Foundations, vol. 46, no. 5, Oct. 2006. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.46.695
  • M. K. Yegian, E. Eseller-Bayat, A. Alshawabkeh, and S. Ali, "Induced-partial saturation for liquefaction mitigation: Experimental investigation," Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, vol. 133, no. 4, Apr. 2007. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1061(ASCE)1090-0241(2007)133:4(372)
  • E. E. Eseller-Bayat, M. K. Yegian, A. Alshawabkeh, and S. Gokyer, "Liquefaction response of partially saturated sands. i: Experimental results," Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, vol. 139, no. 6, Jun. 2013. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000815
  • J. He, J. Chu, V. Inavov, and L. Laloui, "Mitigation of liquefaction of saturated sand using biogas," in Bio- and Chemo-Mechanical Processes in Geotechnical Engineering, 2015, pp. 116–124.
  • N. P. Marasini and M. Okamaru, "Numerical simulation of centrifuge tests to evaluate the performance of desaturation by air injection on liquefiable foundation soil of light structures," Soils and Foundations, vol. 55, no. 6, Dec. 2015. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2015.10.005
  • FlexPDE 5 User Guide, PDE Solutions Inc, 2005.
  • G. F. Pinder and W. G. Gray. (2008) Essentials of multiphase flow and transport in porous media. Wiley Online Library. [Online]. Available: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9780470380802
  • H. Darcy, Determination of the laws of flow of water through sand. Physical hydrology, 1983.
  • M. T. van Genuchten, "A closed-form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils," Soil Science Society of America Journal, vol. 44, no. 5, Sep-Oct. 1980. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1980.03615995004400050002x
  • P. Horgue, C. Soulaine, J. Franc, R. Guibert, and G. Debenest, "An open-source toolbox for multiphase flow in porous media," Computer Physics Communications, vol. 187, Feb. 2015. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpc.2014.10.005
  • H. Yasuhara, M. Okamura, and Y. Kochi, "Experiments and predictions of soil desaturation by air-injection technique and the implications mediated by multiphase flow simulation," Soils and Foundations, vol. 48, no. 6, Dec. 2008. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.48.791
  • B. Mao, Z. Liu, S. Liu, W. Fang, and Z. Chen, "Effects of soil property and air injection condition on airflow behavior during air sparging," Fresenius Environmental Bullet, vol. 26, no. 6, pp. 3942––3955, Dec. 2017.
  • C. W. Fetter, T. Boving, and D. Kreamer, Contaminant Hydrogeology. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, INC, 2017.
  • K. R. Reddy and J. A. Adams, "System effects on benzene removal from saturated soils and ground water using air sparging," Journal of Environmental Engineering, vol. 124, no. 3, Mar. 1998. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1998)124:3(288)
  • R. L. Johnson, P. C. Johnson, D. B. McWhorter, R. E. Hinchee, and I. Goodman, "An overview of in situ air sparging," Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation, vol. 13, no. 4, Nov. 1993. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6592.1993.tb00456.x/
  • N. R. Thomson and R. L. Johnson, "Air distribution during in situ air sparging: an overview of mathematical modeling," J Hazard Mater., vol. 72, no. 2-3, Feb. 2000. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3894(99)00143-0
  • P. D. Lundegard and D. LaBrecque, "Air sparging in a sandy aquifer (florence, oregon, u.s.a.): Actual and apparent radius of influence," Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, vol. 19, no. 1, Jul. 1995. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-7722(95)00010-S
  • N. Lu, "Unsaturated soil mechanics: Fundamental challenges, breakthroughs, and opportunities," Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, vol. 146, no. 5, May 2020. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002233
  • J. C. aned J. Hopmans and M. Grismeru, "Parameter estimation of two-fluid capillary pressure–saturation and permeability functions," Advances in Water Resources, vol. 22, no. 5, Jan. 1999. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0309-1708(98)00025-6
  • H. Ogata and M. Okamura, "Experimental study on air behaviour in saturated soil under air injection," in Proc. Symp. On Natural Disaster Prevention, JSCE, Tokushima, Japan, 2006, pp. 89–90.
  • A. Zeybek and G. S. P. Madabhushi, "Durability of partial saturation to counteract liquefaction," in Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Ground Improvement, London, UK, 2017, pp. 102–111.
  • R. C. Chaney, "Saturation effects on the cyclic strength of sands," in From Volume I of Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics–Proceedings of the ASCE Geotechnical Engineering Division Specialty Conference, Pasadena, CA, 1978, pp. 342–358.
  • Y. Yoshimi, K. Tanaka, and K. Tokimatsuu, "Liquefaction resistance of a partially saturated sand," Soils and Foundations, vol. 29, no. 3, Sep. 1989. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf1972.29.3_157
  • M. Okamura, M. Takebayashi, K. Nishida, and N. Fujii, "In-situ desaturation test by air injection and its evaluation through field monitoring and multiphase flow simulation," Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, vol. 137, no. 7, Jul. 2011. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000483
  • E. K. Nyer and S. S. Suthersan, "Air sparging: Savior of ground water remediations or just blowing bubbles in the bath tub?" Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation, vol. 13, no. 4, Nov. 1993. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6592.1993.tb00453.x
  • M. R. Chen, R. E. Hinkley, and J. E. Killough, "Computed tomography imaging of air sparging in porous media," Water Resources Research, vol. 32, no. 10, Oct. 01, 1996. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1029/96WR01136
  • K. R. Reddy, S. Kosgi, and J. Zhou, "A review of in-situ air sparging for the remediation of voc-contaminated saturated soils and groundwater," Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials, vol. 12, no. 2, Jan. 1995. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1089/hwm.1995.12.97