Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Use of soil texture analyses to predict fracturing in glacial tills and other unconsolidated materials

Kim, Eun Kyoung

Abstract Details

2007, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering.
In the past, the hydraulic conductivities of glacial tills were considered slowly permeable to almost impermeable. However, fractures, cracks, and joints in clay-rich glacial tills can act as conduits for the rapid flow of water and contaminants, causing some glacial tills to exhibit very permeable characteristics. Being able to predict the occurrence and development of fractures is a challenge which led to this investigation of Ohio's tills and glacially-derived soils. Historic field data were collected from published and unpublished sources. The data were used to determine the soil textures and depths of those glacial tills having fractures. Controlled fracturing experiments were performed on mixtures of field soil samples and measured additions of various quantities of pure silica sand. Grain sizes of the field soil materials were determined according to USDA classification (sand, silt and clay). Laboratory methods included grinding soil core samples, adding water and varying amounts of silica sand, pouring the mixtures into 8.5-inch (21.6 cm) diameter aluminum pans, allowing the "mud-pies" to dry for over a week, and photo-documenting the resultant presence or absence of fractures. Statistical and graphical analysis methods included calculating confidence regions in ternary diagrams and formulating correlations of sand, silt and clay. Soil texture appears to be the strongest control on fracturing. Based on the combined data set for Ohio field and lab samples (173 points), tills having less than 75 % sand and/or greater than 6 % clay were predicted to be fractured. Depth of glacial tills having observed fractures ranged from 0.5 to 230 ft. All Ohio till samples observed to have fractures in the study contained illite, chlorite, kaolinite, and vermiculite; some also included expandable clays. The study was expanded to include data and soil samples from several other Midwestern states, including Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa. This predictive model can be a useful tool for field engineers, geologists and soil scientists allowing them to anticipate fractures in glacial tills in Ohio and beyond. Local and regional ground water recharge and/or pollution potential mapping based on the fracture prediction model could then be performed.
Ann Christy (Advisor)
313 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kim, E. K. (2007). Use of soil texture analyses to predict fracturing in glacial tills and other unconsolidated materials [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1196080474

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kim, Eun Kyoung. Use of soil texture analyses to predict fracturing in glacial tills and other unconsolidated materials. 2007. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1196080474.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kim, Eun Kyoung. "Use of soil texture analyses to predict fracturing in glacial tills and other unconsolidated materials." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1196080474

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)