Masters Theses

Abstract

"The clay mineralogy and Standard Proctor compaction characteristics of clayey residual soils developed on the Salem Plateau of the Ozark Physiographic Province and used in earth dam construction were studied. A review of the geology of the Salem Plateau is presented along with a discussion of the factors controlling the development of soils on carbonate bedrock in a high leaching environment. The predominant soil clay mineral was found to be a poorly crystallized kaolinite rather than halloysite as has been postulated by others. Minor amounts of triple-layer minerals and an undetermined amount of an alumino-silicate gel are indicated. The effects of particle size and degree of crystallinity on the tests used to determine clay mineralogy are discussed. The effects of several soil properties on the laboratory compaction of the clayey residual soils were investigated. Since the clay mineralogy was similar for all of the soils investigated, this factor was discarded as not being responsible for compaction differences. The percent clay was found to have the highest correlation with the maximum dry density and the optimum moisture content of the soils. The plastic limit and cation-exchange capacity were also closely correlated with the compaction characteristics. It was determined that the pedular structure characteristic of the residual soils was not destroyed upon laboratory compaction, particularly compaction dry of optimum moisture content. A theory of the compaction of clay soils is postulated which deals primarily with the behavior and changes in this ped structure with increasing moisture content. Scanning electron microscopy was used to illustrate points brought out in the discussions on the morphology of the soil clays and on the compaction characteristics of the clays"--Abstract, pages ii-iii.

Advisor(s)

Schmidt, Norbert O., 1925-2009

Committee Member(s)

Aughenbaugh, N. B.
Kovacs, William D.

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Civil Engineering

Sponsor(s)

Missouri. Geological Survey

Publisher

University of Missouri--Rolla

Publication Date

1970

Pagination

xiv, 184 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 47-48).

Geographic Coverage

Missouri

Rights

© 1970 Arthur David Alcott, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Clay soils -- Missouri
Earth dams -- Missouri -- Design and construction
Clay -- Analysis
Sediment compaction

Thesis Number

T 2502

Print OCLC #

6029522

Electronic OCLC #

869730451

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