Erosivity of intact clay: Influence of the natural structure

Erodibility drill hole tests have been conducted on three Eastern Canadian clays on intact structured specimens, on specimens destructured by consolidation, and on remolded and reconsolidated specimens. The intact structured clay is highly resistant to erosion; links between particles can resist high tractive stresses. The resistance to erosion is drastically decreased however when the clay is destructured by consolidation or remolding. The decrease varies from one clay to the other; after consolidation the resistance to erosion is very low for the St. Hyacinthe clay but still high for the St. Leon clay. The clays are even more erodible after remolding and reconsolidation, but important differences are still observed between the clays tested. The pore water salinity appears as a significant factor in the understanding of the different behaviour observed after destructuration of the clay by consolidation or remolding. Key words: erosivity, rate of erosion, critical tractive stress, structured clay, destruc...