Rapid density profiling of consolidating clay using synchrotron radiation

The high-energy, highly collimated X-ray beam at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source(CHESS) was used to provide rapid and high-resolution temporal and spatial density distributions in a consolidating saturated clay specimen. Porewater pressure at the undrained base of the clay was obtained by a porewater pressure transducer. Test results show good agreement between theoretical and experimental density distributions and indicate that synchrotron radiation is a promising and unique method to study consolidation.