Definition and Importance of Thixotropy of Clay
When flocculent clays are used in construction, they may lose strength as a result of remoulding. However, with the passage of time, the strength increases, though not to its original value. Thixotropy of clay is the process of strength loss and gain with no alteration in volume or water content.
This can also be defined as “a softening process caused by remoulding, followed by a time-dependent return to the original harder state.”
‘Thixis’ means ‘tough,’ and ‘tropo’ means ‘to transform,’ or ‘to alter.’ Thixotropy literally means “to alter by contact or touch,” but it can also be described as a reversible gel-sol-gel transformation in some colloidal systems caused by a mechanical disruption followed by a period of rest.
The loss of strength during remoulding is due to the in-situ permanent destruction of the structure, as well as the reorientation of molecules in the adsorbed layers. The restoration of the soil’s molecular structure is responsible for the increase in strength. The resilience lost as a result of the structure’s collapse is irreversible.
Also Read : Three Phase System of Soil (Diagram)
Thixotropy of soil is a helpful tendency in some building conditions because it causes the earth structure to become harder and therefore safer over time. However, it has drawbacks, such as difficulties in handling materials and machinery.
Piles, a form of foundation construction driven in soils, have been influenced by thixotropic influences. The disturbance can trigger a temporary loss of soil strength in the area.
Until thixotropic recovery becomes noticeable, all driving must be completed. Drilling muds are thixotropic fluids used in drilling operations.