THE INFLUENCE OF SHRINKAGE ON DRYING BEHAVIOUR OF CLAYS

Abstract

Abstract A correct description of the evolution of moisture concentration 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 behaviour, unidirectional and no shrinkage should be considered as approximations of the actual material behaviour. Various numerical simulations show that for clays the influence of the type of shrinkage on drying curves is small.