SEM analysis of the microstructure and physico-mechanical properties of Polish tills was performed. The following microstructural features were examined: the degree of packing of structural elements, the stability of contacts among them, types of contacts between clayey microaggregates as well as the size and shape of pores. Three types of microstructures occur in the analysed tills: skeletal, matrix and matrix-turbulent. According to the degree of packing of the microstructures, three subtypes were distinguished in matrix microstructure: subtype A (loosely packed), subtype B (medium packed) and subtype C (tightly packed). Relations between microstructures types / subtypes and physical-mechanical properties were recognised. There is a noticeable decrease of water content, porosity, soaking and compressibility accompanied by an increase of bulk density, swelling and shear strength from tills with the skeletal microstructure, through tills with the matrix microstructure to those with the matrixturbulent microstructure. A detailed analysis of relations between the physico-mechanical properties of tills and their microstructure revealed that water contained in pore spaces and some microstructural features have a direct effect on these relations.

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2011 - Vol.53
No. 1, No. 2, No. 3

2010 - Vol.52
No. 1-4

2009 - Vol.51
No. 1-2, No. 3-4

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No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. Priedas

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