Influence of Soil Structure on the Stress-Strain Behavior of Sand-Bentonite Mixtures

Mixtures of sand and bentonite, known as buffer, have been studied to determine their suitability for nuclear fuel waste containment. Triaxial tests have been performed on compacted specimens to determine the strength and constitutive behavior of the buffer. Two techniques were followed in preparing specimens. In the first method, specimens were compacted to dry densities of 1.5 Mg/m 3 and 28% moisture content and were alowed to equilibrate to their confining pressures prior to test. The second method, which aimed at shortening the test durations, involved forming specimens at dry densities corresponding to equilibrium states at the test pressure levels