MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF WATERWORK SLUDGE - SHEAR-STRENGTH

In order to ensure a regular and environmentally safe utilization and disposal of waterwork sludges especially the mechanical properties mus t be controlled. Monitoring of the mechanical properties is of great i mportance to almost all treatment, utilization and disposal operations . Depending on the raw water source and the treatment processes, diffe rent types of waterwork sludge can be described. The first step of thi s research project included the collection of data from literature rep orts, information about measuring methods on rheological and soil mech anical parameters and preliminary measurements on selected waterwork s ludge samples. Measurement of vane shear strength is a method used in the field of waste disposal/landfill in Germany. Therefore this method was the main topic of the first investigations. Aims were to examine: 1. Influence of water contents and dewatering capacity on shear stren gth. 2. Correlation between laboratory and field measurement devices. Sludge samples from different waterworks were investigated with follow ing devices: laboratory vane shear apparatus, pocket vane apparatus, p ocket penetrometer and capillary suction time measuring. (C) 1997 IAWQ . Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.