Experimental study on the adhesion factor of clay

A major mechanical property of clay is the adhesion factor that reflects the ratio between its cohesive and adhesive strength under different water content.

Clay is one of the three most commonly encountered soil types in riverbed and seabed, other than sand and silt.

A major mechanical property of clay is the adhesion factor that reflects the ratio between its cohesive and adhesive strength under different water content. Currently, this adhesion factor is not exactly known.

It is important however, to get a better understanding of the relationship between cohesive and adhesive forces, since large surfaces on dredging tools can generate a lot of resistance, therefore slowing production.

In this study, experiments were undertaken to determine the actual relation between adhesion and cohesion.

The results can help the implementation of analytical cutting models, in turn, allowing the optimal cutting angle in dredging practice to be calculated.

This article is published in the summer issue of IADC’s scientific journal Terra et Aqua. Articles in Terra et Aqua investigate and explain the latest innovations relevant in the dredging industry and its related sectors.