Impact of high-pH fluid circulation on long term hydromechanical behaviour and microstructure of compacted clay from the laboratory of Meuse-Haute Marne (France)

After the circulation of high-pH water, a strong reduction of the swelling properties associated to an increase in friction angle was evidenced, whereas the hydrodynamic properties remained stable. These modifications were associated with an alteration of the fabric of the samples, i.e., the dissolution of the initial clay minerals and the precipitation of neoformed illite, which is a non-swelling mineral. The results demonstrated that chemo-hydromechanical couplings occurred during the circulation of high-pH water and resulted in the modification of the material's mineralogy. Thus, these processes are likely to alter the sealing characteristics of a backfill constructed from a compacted MHM-clay in the very long term.