Browsing by Author "Durukan, S"

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    Influence of compaction water content on the hydraulic conductivity of sandbentonite and zeolite-bentonite mixtures
    Ören, AH; Durukan, S; Kayalar, AS
    Although investigation of the hydraulic conductivity behaviour of zeolite-bentonite mixtures (ZBMs) has been a topic of interest for researchers recently, the influence of compaction water content on the hydraulic conductivity of ZBMs has not been studied so far. This study discusses the hydraulic conductivities of ZBMs and compares the results with those of sand-bentonite mixtures (SBMs). The hydraulic conductivities of SBMs were unaffected by compaction water content and bentonite content, but the hydraulic conductivities of ZBMs were substantially different in mixtures containing 10% and 20% bentonite. The hydraulic conductivity of 10% ZBM (i.e. containing 10% bentonite and 90% wt. zeolite) gradually decreased as the water content increased to optimum water content and then it tended to decrease rapidly when the water content exceeded the optimum. In contrast, the hydraulic conductivity of 20% ZBM sharply decreased at the early stages of compaction water content (i.e. on the dry side of optimum water content) and levelled off when the water content was at the optimum water content. However, there is at least one order of magnitude difference between the hydraulic conductivities of ZBMs and SBMs, supporting the zeolite network model as suggested in previous works.
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    Groundwater recharge estimation using HYDRUS 1D model in Alasehir sub-basin of Gediz Basin in Turkey
    Tonkul, S; Baba, A; Simsek, C; Durukan, S; Demirkesen, AC; Tayfur, G
    Gediz Basin, located in the western part of Turkey constituting 2% land of the country, has an important groundwater potential in the area. Alasehir sub-basin, located in the southeast of the Gediz Basin and subject to the extensive withdrawal for the irrigation, constitutes the study area. Natural recharge to the sub-basin due to precipitation is numerically investigated in this study. For this purpose, 25 research wells, whose depths range from 20 to 50 m, were drilled to observe the recharge and collect the necessary field data for the numerical model. Meteorological data were collected from 3 weather stations installed in the study area. The numerical model HYDRUS was calibrated using the field water content data. Soil characterization was done on the core samples; the aquifer characterization was performed, and the alluvial aquifer recharge due to precipitation was calculated. As a result, the computed recharge value ranges from 21.78 to 68.52 mm, with an average value of 43.09 mm. According to the numerical model, this amount of recharge corresponds to 10% of the amount of annual rainfall.
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    Estimation groundwater total recharge and discharge using GIS-integrated water level fluctuation method: a case study from the Alasehir alluvial aquifer Western Anatolia, Turkey
    Simsek, C; Demirkesen, AC; Baba, A; Kumanlioglu, A; Durukan, S; Aksoy, N; Demirkiran, Z; Hasözbek, A; Murathan, A; Tayfur, G
    The estimation of groundwater recharge is an essential process for hydrogeological study. Realistic determination approach is crucial for assessing groundwater potential in an aquifer system and estimating of groundwater levels and/or changes in dry periods. Based on these matters, we employ a GIS-integrated groundwater level fluctuation method to determine the groundwater recharge for a hydrological period in the Alasehir alluvial aquifer (W. Anatolia). The method basically takes into account both increasing and decreasing of the groundwater levels due to the recharge and discharge mechanisms in the aquifer. In this study, 16 pumping and monitoring wells were drilled with a total depth of 1300 m, and water level data loggers were installed into the monitoring wells to determine the groundwater level changes. The spatial distribution of the monthly groundwater level change map was multiplied by the aquifer storage distribution map and then the accurate water volume is calculated by using the 3-D spatial analysis. According to our evaluation in the aquifer, positive volume change of the groundwater is 187 hm(3) in a year, which is considered as a recharge value of groundwater. It is concluded that the GIS-integrated water table fluctuation method gave rise to estimate the total recharge amount of the groundwater in the Alasehir aquifer. The total groundwater recharge indicates that total inflow in the aquifer from precipitation, leakage from surface water and irrigation waters. It can be stated that the recharge estimation of groundwater in a surficial aquifer, like the Alasehir aquifer, is fairly easy using the GIS-integrated water table fluctuation method.
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    Assessment and statistical evaluation of suction characteristics obtained via filter paper technique on zeolite-bentonite mixtures
    Durukan, S; Akinci, G
    Filter paper technique (FPT) is known to measure both matric and total suctions in a wide measurement range. However, it has many individual errors due to the uncertainty of calibration curve and sensitivity of the measurements to the temperature and relative humidity variations. Besides, the ASTM procedure for FPT does not specify any sample preparation and repetition for experiments. In this regard, this study covers the reliability of suction measurements using the FPT and its application on zeolite-bentonite mixtures (ZBMs), which were proposed for use of liner material in the literature. A calibration curve for Whatman No. 42 filter paper was constructed and compared to the other calibration curves given in the literature. Due to large scatter of calibration curves, total suction measurement is found to be inconvenient for suction values under 1000 kPa. An improvement in sample preparation and necessary minimum numbers of tests are also suggested. When preparing the test specimen, the compacted sample is recommended not to be cut but to be compacted separately as upper and lower parts where the contact filter paper to be placed in between in order to obtain good contact area to measure the matric suction accurately. The necessary minimum numbers of tests for +/- 10% accuracy band in a confidence level of 95% for ASTM procedure on ZBMs are suggested. Repetitions were found to vary depending on the suction type and bentonite content. Repetitions of six and eight times are recommended for 10% ZBMs for matric and total suction measurements, respectively. Similarly, for 20% ZBMs the repetitions of six and ten times are found for matric and total suction measurements, respectively. In addition, the influence of index properties and compaction states on suction was also investigated. Matric suction values decrease from dry of optimum water content to the wet of optimum water content and approach to zero for higher water contents. The suction values are found to increase with decreasing water contents where the dry density and the void ratio were constant. On the other hand, for a given water content, matric suction values are found to be increasing with increasing dry densities, while the void ratio was decreasing being more evident at relatively higher saturation degrees.
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    Suction characteristics of compacted zeolite-bentonite and sand-bentonite mixtures
    Durukan, S; Pulat, HF; Yukselen-Aksoy, Y
    Soil suction is one of the most important parameters describing soil moisture conditions for unsaturated soils used in landfill liners. However, few studies have been conducted on the suction characteristics of compacted zeolite-bentonite mixtures (ZBMs) and sand-bentonite mixtures (SBMs), which are proposed for use as liner materials. Nevertheless, zeolite is known for its microporous skeleton containing cages and tunnels and it has a great physical affiliation to water uptake. Zeolite and bentonite, in a mixture, are thought to be in competition for water uptake and this may alter the distribution of water content for each soil in the mixture. The present study investigated the suction properties of compacted ZBMs and SBMs for varying mixing ratios and compaction water contents. The soil suction measurement technique chosen was the filter-paper method. The suction characteristics of powdered, granular, and block zeolites, as well as 0, 10, and 20% bentonite in ZBMs and SBMs were measured and compared with each other. Contaminated compacted ZBMs are compared with those of uncontaminated compacted ones at the optimum water content for the 10% and 20% mixtures. The results show that suction capacity of zeolite increases with grain size. As bentonite content increases, both matric and total suction increase for both mixtures. ZBMs have higher matric suction values than SBMs, but not total suction values. Contaminated total suction values are found to be higher than those of uncontaminated samples due to an increase in dissolved ion concentration.
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    Evaluation of the Antecedent Saturation and Rainfall Conditions on the Slope Failure Mechanism Triggered by Rainfalls
    Durukan, S
    The stability analysis of rainfall-induced slope failures considers a number of factors including the characteristics of the rainfall, vegetation, geometry of the slope, unsaturated soil characteristics, infiltration capacity, and saturation degree variations. Amongst all these factors, this study aims to investigate the effects of the antecedent rainfall and saturation conditions. A numerical modeling study was conducted using finite difference code software on a representative slope geometry with two different soil types. Two scenarios were followed: The first involved the application of three different rainfall intensities for varying initial saturation levels between 40% and 60%, representing the antecedent saturation conditions. The second scenario involved modeling successive rainfalls for a typical initial saturation degree of 50%. The impact of antecedent rainfall was assessed by determining the time required for failure during the application of a main extreme rainfall after a preceding rainfall of varying durations. Consequently, a zone of susceptible time for failure was suggested for use as a criterion in hazard management, allowing for the tracking of rainfall and its duration through the proposed chart for potential failures. Once the anticipated critical rainfall intensities have been determined through a meteorological analysis, a risk assessment for a specific slope can be conducted using the proposed practical procedure. Accordingly, a control mechanism may be established to detect the potential for a natural hazard. Furthermore, the proposed procedure was applied to a case study, whose modeling insights were in harmony with the real conditions of the slope failure. Thus, this demonstrated the significance of the antecedent conditions in modeling landslides triggered by rainfalls.