Evaluation of the Changes in Stiff Clay Microstructure by SEM Digital Image Processing

Abstract

Microfabric studies of soil have been enhanced by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Through various techniques of image analysis, many studies have been done to determine quantitative characteristics of morphology of soil microstructure. This research examines the changes in microstructure of stiff clay at the Hai Duong site in Vietnam due to shearing, consolidating and swelling. It was found that for samples that have been sheared the structure specimens exhibited face-to-face contact between particles, while consolidation pressure created the closeness of particles contact and swelling seemed not to be affecting the microstructure.