Condensation-induced self-patterning of a thin clayey layer

We show through laboratory experiments that the self-patterning of a thin clayey layer can be triggered by condensation. The natural sediment used in the experiments was a highly polydisperse granular paste with smectite clay in the fine fraction. Under certain physicochemical conditions, condensation induces the solid-to-liquid transition of the sediment layer, resulting in sediment flow and the formation of band structures. These results suggest a physical mechanism for the formation of patterns commonly observed on the humid walls of underground cavities, referred to as vermiculations. Copyright (C) 2022 EPLA