Large−scale experimental investigations of specified granular fill materials for radon mitigation by active and passive soil depressurisations

Abstract

A series of large−scale experimental tests were performed to examine the flow behaviour of the T1 Struc and T2 Perm specified granular fill materials with active and passive depressurisations. Granular materials were compacted and tested at various compacted thicknesses. Compaction works were performed using a field compactor and compaction degrees of the materials were found to be higher than those induced by a standardised small-scale compactor. The air permeability (kah) values of the materials were obtained with active depressurisation. It was found that the overall trend of kah tended to decrease with the increase in the compacted thickness of the materials and were found to be compatible with those determined by the small-scale test apparatus. Results from passive depressurisation tests indicated that the rotating cowls performed the best, followed by a static open pipe and a pipe with a cap.