The influence of shrinkage on drying behaviour of clays

A correct description of the evolution of moisture concn. profiles in shrinking materials is complicated by the influence of shrinkage on mass transfer. Shrinkage has to be accounted for in the diffusion equation. Simulations have been performed for three types of shrinkage: isotropic, unidirectional and no shrinkage. Since many materials show isotropic shrinkage behavior, unidirectional and no shrinkage should be considered as approxns. of the actual material behavior. Various numerical simulations show that for clays the influence of the type of shrinkage on drying curves is smal