<p>Laboratory tests on microscale are reported in which amorphous silica grains were compressed in a liquid environment, namely in solutions with different silica ion concentrations for up to four weeks. Such an arrangement represents an idealized representation of two sand grains. The grain surfaces and asperities were examined in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for fractures, silica polymer growth, and polymer strength. Single chains of silica polymers are found to have a failure pulling force of 330 - 450 nN. </p><p>A chain of observations are reported for the first time, using Pneumatic Grain Indenter and Grain Indenter-Puller apparatuses, confirming a long-existing hypothesis that a stressed contact with microcracks generates dissolved silica in the contact (asperity) vicinity, which eventually polymerizes, forming a structure between the grains on a timescale in the order of weeks. Such structure exhibits intergranular tensile force of 1 - 1.5 mN when aged in solutions containing silica ion concentrations of 200- to 500 ppm. Stress appears to accelerate the generation of silica polymers around stressed contact regions, so does mica-silica contacts. The magnitude of intergranular tensile force is 2 to 3 times greater than that of water capillary effect between grains.</p> / Dissertation

In the United States, the annual cost of on-site soil erosion problems such as soil and nutrient losses, and off-site soil erosion problems such as sedimentation of lakes and river, loss of navigable waterways, flooding and water quality impairment, has been estimated at 44 billion USD (Pimentel, 1995; Telles, 2011). While eroding sediment sources can either be from land or from stream/river systems, the erosion from streambanks can be quite significant, reaching up to 80% of sediment leaving a watershed (Simon et al 2002; Simon and Rinaldi 2006). Despite many decades of research one the erosion of cohesive soils by flowing water (fluvial erosion), this significant aspect of environmental sustainability and engineering is still poorly understood. While past studies have given invaluable insight into fluvial erosion, this process is still poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of this dissertation was to examine the relationship between time and erosion resistance of remolded cohesive soils, and to quantify and model the effects soil and water temperature on the fluvial erosion of cohesive soils First, erosion tests were performed to investigate how soil erosion resistance develops over time using three natural soils and testing in a laboratory water channel. Results showed that the erosion rate of the soils decreased significantly over the time since the soils were wetted. This study indicates researchers need to report their sample preparation methods in detail, including the time between sample wetting and sample testing. Second, erosion tests were performed at multiple soil and water temperatures. Results showed that increases in water temperature led to increased erosion rates while increases in soil temperature resulted in decreased erosion rate. When soil and water temperatures were equal, erosion results were not significantly different. Results also showed a linear relationship between erosion rate and the difference between soil and water temperatures, indicating erosion resistance decreased as heat energy was added to the soil. Lastly, two common erosion models (the excess shear stress and the Wilson models) were evaluated, and were modified to account for soil and water temperature effects. Results showed that, compared to the original models, the modified models were better in predicting erosion rates. However, significant error between model predictions and measured erosion rates still existed. Overall, these results improve the current state of knowledge of how erosion resistance of remolded cohesive soils evolves with time, showing the importance of this factor in the design of cohesive erosion experiments. Also, the results show that by accounting for thermal effects on erosion rate, the usability of erosion models can be improved in their use for erosion predictions in soil and water conservation and engineering practice. / PHD / In the United States, the annual cost of on-site soil erosion problems such as soil and nutrient losses, and off-site soil erosion problems such as sedimentation of lakes and river, loss of navigable waterways, flooding and water quality impairment, has been estimated at 44 billion USD (Pimentel, 1995; Telles, 2011). While eroding sediment sources can either be from land or from stream/river systems, the erosion from streambanks can be quite significant, reaching up to 80% of sediment leaving a watershed (Simon et al 2002; Simon and Rinaldi 2006). Despite many decades of research one the erosion of cohesive soils by flowing water (fluvial erosion), this significant aspect of environmental sustainability and engineering is still poorly understood. While past studies have given invaluable insight into fluvial erosion, this process is still poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of this dissertation was to examine the relationship between time and erosion resistance of remolded cohesive soils, and to quantify and model the effects soil and water temperature on the fluvial erosion of cohesive soils First, erosion tests were performed to investigate how soil erosion resistance develops over time using three natural soils and testing in a laboratory water channel. Results showed that the erosion rate of the soils decreased significantly over the time since the soils were wetted. This study indicates researchers need to report their sample preparation methods in detail, including the time between sample wetting and sample testing. Second, erosion tests were performed at multiple soil and water temperatures. Results showed that increases in water temperature led to increased erosion rates while increases in soil vi temperature resulted in decreased erosion rate. When soil and water temperatures were equal, erosion results were not significantly different. Results also showed a linear relationship between erosion rate and the difference between soil and water temperatures, indicating erosion resistance decreased as heat energy was added to the soil. Lastly, two common erosion models (the excess shear stress and the Wilson models) were evaluated, and were modified to account for soil and water temperature effects. Results showed that, compared to the original models, the modified models were better in predicting erosion rates. However, significant error between model predictions and measured erosion rates still existed. Overall, these results improve the current state of knowledge of how erosion resistance of remolded cohesive soils evolves with time, showing the importance of this factor in the design of cohesive erosion experiments. Also, the results show that by accounting for thermal effects on erosion rate, the usability of erosion models can be improved in their use for erosion predictions in soil and water conservation and engineering practice.