MICROSTRUCTURAL AND TOMOGRAPHIC ANALYSES IN GEOTECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF SOIL MEDIA

Abstract: This paper discusses two different approaches to microanalysis of the soil medium. It presents testing results collected by electromicroscopy, which requires special sample preparation, and a non-destructive method, requiring no sample preparation and using a computer-assisted tomograph. The paper presents: • Applicability of microstructure analyses and chemical microanalysis in the determination of structural damage incurred in the historical time in relation to the effect of contemporary abiotic events; • Application of a standard medical computer-assisted tomograph in qualitative assessment of structure and observations of mechanisms of failure in the cement/peat soil composite. Investigations concerning the applicability of computed tomography in soil micromechanics are demonstrative in character and the presented conclusions suggest further directions for research. Key words: clay soils, organics soil composition, microstructure, computed tomography 1