Abstract
A rational method of calculating the van der Waals attractive force between two clay particles is presented. The classical London, Hamaker and De Boer theories, and the more recent Lifshitz theory are combined to obtain closed form solutions for the force between clay particles. Special attention is given to nonparallel nature of particles, and the influence of the interstitial pore fluid. With the aid of equations developed, the influence of geometrical parameters such as the particle length, thickness, orientation and spacing, and the influence of pore fluid properties are illustrated. The study presented herein, along with the study presented recently on repulsive forces, should provide a more quantitative means of evaluating the physico-chemical interparticle forces in cohesive soils. In addition, the results in the present paper should make possible the consideration of van der Waals attractive force in micromechanical numerical studies such as the discrete element method of analysis.
