Influence of the initial water content and dry density on the soil–water retention curve and the shrinkage behavior of a compacted clay

The paper presents the results of an experimental study on the effects of the initial water content and dry density on the soil–water retention curve and the shrinkage behavior of a compacted Lias-clay. The initial conditions after compaction (initial water content and initial dry density) have been chosen on the basis of three Proctor tests of different compaction efforts. According to the eight chosen initial conditions clay samples have been compacted statically. The relation between total suction and water content was determined for the drying path starting from the initial conditions without previous saturation of the specimens. A chilled-mirror dew-point hygrometer was used for the suction measurements. For the investigation of the shrinkage behavior cylindrical specimens were dried to desired water contents step-by-step without previous saturation. The volume of the specimens was measured by means of a caliper. Based on the test results the influence of different initial conditions on the soil suction and the shrinkage behavior is analyzed. The soil–water retention curves obtained in terms of the gravimetric water content are independent of the initial dry density. At water contents above approximately 11–12.5% a strong influence of the compaction water content is observed. At smaller water contents, the soil–water retention curve is independent of the compaction water content. The results of the shrinkage tests show that the influence of the compaction dry density on the shrinkage behavior is negligible. Similar to the drying behavior of saturated samples a primary and a residual drying process could be distinguished. The primary drying process is strongly influenced by the initial water content. In contrast, the rate of the volume change of the residual drying process is unaffected by the initial water content.     

Influence of Cyclic Wetting Drying on Collapse Behaviour of Compacted Residual Soil

The climatic zones where residual soils occur are often characterized by alternate wet and dry seasons. Laboratory studies of earlier workers have established that the alternate wetting and drying process affects the swell-shrink potentials, water content, void ratio and particle cementation of expansive soils. The influence of cyclic wetting and drying on the collapse behaviour of residual soils has not been examined. This paper examines the influence of alternate wetting and drying on the collapse behaviour of compacted residual soil specimens from Bangalore District. Results of such a study are useful in anticipating changes in collapse behaviour of compacted residual soil fills. Experimental results indicated that the cyclic wetting and drying process increased the degree of expansiveness of the residual soils and reduced their collapse tendency. Changes in the swell/collapse behaviour of compacted residual soil specimens from wetting drying effects are attributed to reduction in water content, void ratio and possible growth of cementation bonds.     

Mechanism of cultivation soil degradation in rocky desertification areas under dry/wet cycles

Karst rocky desertification is a process of land degradation involving serious soil erosion, extensive exposure of basement rocks. It leads to drastic decrease in soil productivity and formation of a desert-like landscape. In this regard, changes in climatic conditions are the main origin of the soils degradation. Indeed, soils subjected to successive dry/wet cycling processes caused by climate change develop swelling and shrinkage deformations which can modify their water retention properties, thus inducing the degradation of soil–water capacity. The ecological characteristics of cultivation soils in karst areas, Southwest of China, are extremely easy to be affected by external environmental factors due to its shallow bedding and low vegetation coverage. Based on the analysis of the climate (precipitation) of this region during the past decades, an experimental study has been conducted on a cultivated soil obtained from the typical karst area in southwestern China. Firstly, the soil–water properties have been investigated. The measured soil–water retention curve shows that the air-entry value of the soil is between 50 and 60 kPa, while the residual saturation is about 12%. Based on the experimental results, three identifiable stages of de-saturation have been defined. Secondly, a special apparatus was developed to investigate the volume change behavior of the soil with controlled suction cycles. The vapor equilibrium technique was used for the suction control. The obtained results show that under the effect of dry/wet cycles, (1) the void ratio of the cultivated soil is continuously decreasing, leading to a gradual soil compaction. (2) The permeability decreases, giving rise to a deterioration of water transfer ability as well as a deterioration of soil–water retention capacity. It is then obvious that the long-term dry/wet cycling process caused by the climate change induce a continuously compaction and degradation of the cultivated soil in karst rocky desertification areas.     

Desiccation-induced Shrinkage in Compacted Lateritic Soils

Specimens prepared from three lateritic soil samples were subjected to drying under laboratory conditions. Volumetric shrinkage strains were measured at the end of the drying period. Results of this study indicate that, for the lateritic soils tested, volumetric shrinkage strains are influenced by soil composition and compaction conditions. Volumetric shrinkage strain increased with higher compaction water content. The influence of compaction water content on measured volumetric shrinkage strain was more pronounced in specimens with higher fines content. A regression equation was developed from the data to estimate volumetric shrinkage strain given the compaction water content relative to optimum, plasticity index, fines content and compactive effort.     

干湿循环下南阳膨胀土的土水和变形特性

对初始状态相同南阳膨胀土试样进行1～6次干湿循环,选取其中的1、3、6次循环后的试样,采用饱和盐溶液蒸汽平衡法测定其含水率、孔隙比、饱和度等与吸力的关系,并对比分析干湿循环对南阳膨胀土的持水能力影响。在1～6次干湿循环过程中,以环刀为参照物拍摄每次烘干后试样上表面照片,用数字图像处理提取图像中的裂隙与收缩面积,以此分析试样烘干过程中裂隙与收缩与干湿循环次数的关系。试验结果表明,干湿循环过程中相同吸力的试样含水率略降低、孔隙比略增大、持水能力略降低,烘干过程中试样收缩面积增大,裂隙展开面积增大,但上述性质变化幅度都随干湿循环次数增加而减小。试验成果为研究膨胀土的持水能力和湿胀干缩变形性质随干湿循环的变化规律提供实测数据。     

Study on the swelling behaviour of blended clay–sand soils

Soils containing expansive clays undergo swelling that can be both detrimental and beneficial in various applications. In the Arabian Gulf coastal region, natural heterogeneous soils containing clay and sand (tills, shales, and clayey sands) support most of the civil infrastructure systems. Likewise, mixes of clay and sand are used for local earthwork construction such as roads and landfills. A clear understanding of the swelling behaviour of such soils is pivotal at the outset of all construction projects. The main objective of this paper was to understand the evolution of swelling with increasing clay content in local soils. A theoretical framework for clay–sand soils was developed using phase relationships. Laboratory investigations comprised of mineralogical composition and geotechnical index properties of the clay and sand and consistency limits, swelling potential, and morphology of clay–sand mixes. Results indicated that soil consistency of mixes of a local expansive clay and an engineered sand depends on the weighted average of the constituents. Mixes with 10% clay through 40% clay capture the transition from a sand-like behaviour to a clay-like behaviour. Influenced by the initial conditions and soil matrix, the swelling potential of the investigated mixes correlated well with soil plasticity (SP(%) = 0.16 (I _p)^1.188). The parameters sand void ratio and clay–water ratio were found to better explain the behaviour of blended clay–sand soils.     

膨胀土干缩变形特性试验研究

膨胀土是一种典型的问题性土,对气候变化非常敏感,在干旱气候条件下,极易发生体积收缩变形,引发各种工 程地质问题。为了研究膨胀土的干缩变形特性,开展了一系列室内干燥试验,测定了膨胀土的收缩特征曲线,重点分析 了初始含水率和干密度对干缩变形过程的影响,并进一步探讨了水泥固化抑制膨胀土干缩变形的效果和机理。结果表 明：（1） 膨胀土的干缩变形过程存在三个典型阶段：正常收缩、残余收缩和零收缩;（2） 初始含水率越高,试样蒸发速 率越快,且干缩变形完全后试样孔隙比越小而最终收缩应变越大,干缩变形越明显;（3） 初始干密度越大,试样蒸发速 率和最终体积收缩应变越小,提高初始干密度对试样干缩变形具有一定的抑制作用;（4） 在膨胀土中掺入适量的水泥能 显著降低试样的体积收缩应变,对干缩变形具有良好的抑制效果;（5） 膨胀土的干缩变形具有明显的各向异性特征,并 且与初始状态有关。     

膨胀土干缩变形特性试验研究

膨胀土是一种典型的问题性土，对气候变化非常敏感，在干旱气候条件下，极易发生体积收缩变形，引发各种工 程地质问题。为了研究膨胀土的干缩变形特性，开展了一系列室内干燥试验，测定了膨胀土的收缩特征曲线，重点分析 了初始含水率和干密度对干缩变形过程的影响，并进一步探讨了水泥固化抑制膨胀土干缩变形的效果和机理。结果表 明：（1） 膨胀土的干缩变形过程存在三个典型阶段：正常收缩、残余收缩和零收缩；（2） 初始含水率越高，试样蒸发速 率越快，且干缩变形完全后试样孔隙比越小而最终收缩应变越大，干缩变形越明显；（3） 初始干密度越大，试样蒸发速 率和最终体积收缩应变越小，提高初始干密度对试样干缩变形具有一定的抑制作用；（4） 在膨胀土中掺入适量的水泥能 显著降低试样的体积收缩应变，对干缩变形具有良好的抑制效果；（5） 膨胀土的干缩变形具有明显的各向异性特征，并 且与初始状态有关。     

Cyclic Swell–Shrink Behaviour of a Compacted Expansive Soil

Laboratory cyclic swell–shrink tests were carried out on compacted expansive soil specimens to study in detail the effect of changes in shrinkage pattern on the swell–shrink behaviour of compacted expansive soils. Compacted soil specimens were allowed to swell and either shrank fully or partially shrank to several predetermined heights in each cycle. The tests were carried out at a surcharge pressure of 50 kPa. The test results revealed that shrinkage of compacted saturated soil specimens to predetermined height in each shrinkage cycle provides similar conditions as that of the controlled suction tests with an increasing number of swell–shrink cycles. The water content of soil specimens and hence soil suction was found to remain nearly constant for each pattern of shrinkage. For soil specimens equilibrated to a given swell–shrink pattern, suction at the end of shrinkage cycles was changed from a higher suction to a lower suction, and also from a lower to a higher suction. The experimental results showed that there may be an immediate equilibrium state attained by the soil in terms of swell–shrink potential if suction at the shrinkage cycles was less than the past suction; otherwise, the equilibrium state was accompanied by fatigue of swelling. The volumetric deformation of the soil specimen subjected greater shrinkage was found to be much larger than the corresponding vertical deformation. The compressibility index of microstructure, κ_m, was determined for several shrinkage patterns. It is shown that κ_m is heavily influenced by suction at the end of shrinkage cycles.     

Determination of Swelling and Shrinkage Properties of Undisturbed Expansive Soils

Expansive soils exhibit large volume changes when their water content changes. Alternate heave and settlement due to seasonal climatic variations result in distress and damage in civil infrastructure systems. This research focuses on the understanding of swelling and shrinkage phenomenon in the surface layer of expansive soils. Undisturbed field samples were used to capture the effect of in situ conditions (geologically induced fissuring and environmentally caused saturation) on volume change properties of Regina clay. Based on laboratory investigations, the swelling potential and swelling pressure of the native clay at S = 82% were found to be 1.5% and 3.5 kPa, respectively. The swell-shrink path during progressive soil drying followed an S-shaped curve comprising of an initial low structural shrinkage followed by a sharp decline during normal shrinkage and then by a low decrease during residual shrinkage. The soil microstructure correlated well with the observed volume change behaviour as well as with the consistency limits. The presence of fissures in field samples at various degrees of saturation confirmed that the investigated deposit is at an equilibrium condition with respect to the swell-shrink phenomenon. The swelling properties at any initial saturation state were estimated using the free swelling test and the swell-shrink test data in conjunction. The swelling potential increased 12 times (from 2 to 24%) and the swelling pressure increased by two orders of magnitude (from 27 to 2500 kPa) with a change in the degree of saturation from 80% (at the plastic limit) to 60% (at the shrinkage limit).     

Small-Strain Shear Modulus of Cement-Admixed Kaolinite

An experimental study is conducted to measure small-strain shear modulus of clay-cement mixture using bender element apparatus setup in a triaxial cell. Bender element tests were conducted on cement-treated soils and the results were analyzed to study the variation of shear modulus properties of soil specimens at different cement contents, confining pressures, curing times, and compaction moisture contents. Based on the obtained results increasing the cement ratio has a significant effect on the small-strain shear modulus of the treated soils, and this effect signifies with increasing the moisture content and curing time. Rates of shear modulus enhancements due to cement content, curing time, and compaction moisture content are quantified and presented. In this study, a clay–cement–water ratio formulation is proposed that enables one to calculate cement and water contents required to obtain specific small-strain shear modulus.     

Study of desiccation crack initiation and development at ground surface

Cracks are common in clayey or expansive soils and provide preferential pathways for water infiltration into soils. A field study was conducted to investigate the mechanisms of initiation and development of desiccation cracks on two soils. Based on results of the field study and measurements of soil-water retention curves and soil shrinkage properties in the laboratory, the conditions of crack initiation and the development of crack geometric parameters (i.e., crack porosity, crack aperture, and crack density) with water content or drying time were quantified. The results show that desiccation cracks developed in three stages: initial stage, primary stage, and steady state stage. In the initial stage, few cracks developed with gradually decreasing water content. When the water content reached a critical value for crack initiation, cracks developed quickly and this was the start of the primary stage. The critical suction at crack initiation was calculated using a stress criterion, which is in the range of 5.3–21.3 times the preconsolidation pressure of the soil. As the water content approached the shrinkage limit of the soil, cracks developed slowly and approached a steady state. The cracks were found to be repeatable during three drying–wetting cycles.     

弱膨胀土工程特性及其路基处治对策

针对湖北襄-荆高速公路膨胀土,在室内开展了弱膨胀土的压实特性、胀缩性状、力学特性试验研究,发现压实膨胀土的工程性状受含水率与压实度的影响,胀缩特性是膨胀土的固有特性,其大小取决于起始湿度和密度;击实膨胀土的最佳含水量和最大干密度随击实功变化而变化,压实功愈大,土的最大干密度也愈大,而对应的最佳含水量愈小;膨胀土的CBR值随其含水率的变化规律类似于击实曲线,但CBR峰值含水率大于最佳含水率,为深入认识膨胀土的工程特性提供了帮助。因此,利用弱膨胀土填筑路堤时,不仅要考虑经过击实后的土的性质,而且还要考虑在填方建成、条件改变后土的性能;膨胀土路堤填筑除考虑压实度与CBR值要求外,尚需考虑胀缩总率的影响。最后,推荐了弱膨胀土路堤结构型式,并提出了弱膨胀土用于路堤填筑的控制标准。     

Hydraulic conductivity of remolded fine-grained soils versus index properties

Hydraulic conductivity is a dominant parameter in the design of engineered waste disposal facilities such as landfill liners and covers, lagoon liners and slurry walls. It is of interest to a geotechnical or geo-environmental engineer to develop a predictive method of determining the hydraulic conductivity of fine-grained soils, in order to assess its suitability as a liner material. To predict the hydraulic conductivity of soils, researchers and geotechnical engineers have attempted to correlate it with index properties of the soils, such as the liquid limit, void ratio and specific surface. Based on the present study a predictive method has been developed in this paper to predict the hydraulic conductivity in terms of void ratio and shrinkage index (Liquid limit – shrinkage limit) for remoulded fine-grained soils. Though the initial conditions for the soil will affect the hydraulic conductivity behaviour to some extent, both the void ratio and soil characteristics are primary factors in affecting the hydraulic conductivity. Therefore for predictive purpose, the study of hydraulic conductivity behaviour of remoulded fine-grained soils as presented in this paper can be found to be useful for compacted soils also.     

非饱和花岗岩残积土崩解机制试验研究

为研究非饱和花岗岩残积土的崩解机制,将取自广州的残积土试样根据不同含水率和压实度进行制备,用自制仪器进行崩解性试验,并对相关公式进行修正并用于试验数据处理。同时,从微观角度将土颗粒的粒间受力状态进行简化分析,继而对非饱和花岗岩残积土的崩解机制进行分析,结果表明,主要控制因素为孔隙气压（有效孔隙率）和基质吸力。结合试验结果,建立崩解稳定阶段平均速度与有效空洞率及基质吸力的关系,结果表明,分别呈指数函数和对数函数正相关。     

初始孔隙比对高吸力下非饱和土土水特性的影响

在我国西北干旱半干旱地区,处于高吸力范围内的非饱和土广泛存在于各种岩土工程中。非饱和土土水特性的研究是非饱和土渗流、强度与变形研究的基础。为研究高吸力下不同初始孔隙比非饱和土的土水特性,以一种粉土试样作为研究对象,采用饱和盐溶液蒸汽平衡法控制土试样的吸力,利用阿基米德原理量测不规则土试样的体积,通过修正的Van-Gen...     

皖中膨胀土的承载比(CBR)强度特性研究

针对皖中地区高速公路建设中遇到的膨胀土问题,选取合六叶高速公路典型土样开展了系统的承载比（CBR）特性试验研究,并在此基础上探讨了膨胀土作为路基填料的适用性。研究表明:（1）起始含水量对膨胀土CBR值影响显著,CBR最大值对应的含水量高于最佳含水量,且击实功越大,二者差值也越大;（2）CBR膨胀量随起始含水量增大而减小,起始含水量越低,CBR膨胀量就越大,路基的水稳性就越差;（3）当击实功较大时,膨胀土的最佳含水量较小,适合填筑的可变含水量范围较宽,建议现场施工控制采用重型击实标准;（4）在重型击实条件下,将弱膨胀土起始含水量控制在比最优含水量大2%4%范围内,能同时满足压实度和CBR值要求以用于填筑下路堤,中膨胀土作为路基填料时必须经过改性处理。研究结果对于在膨胀土地区进行公路建设具有参考意义。     

结构性对膨胀土收缩特性影响的试验研究

膨胀土的收缩性明显,容易引发边坡与地基开裂,但有关结构性对收缩特性影响的认识甚少。采用收缩自动试验装置,在恒湿恒温条件下对原状膨胀土和重塑膨胀土开展了收缩对比试验和扫描电镜（scanning electron microscope,简称SEM）测试分析,结果表明：与原状土相比,重塑土在土中水流动阶段的蒸发速率较小,蒸汽扩散阶段收缩稳定速率较慢,最终体积收缩应变量更大;重塑土体积收缩−含水率关系曲线的线性段较长,斜率较大,直线段与稳定段之间的过渡不明显,而原状土则反之;重塑土和原状土的收缩特征曲线（soil shrinkage characteristic curves,简称SSC）在较高含水率段基本重合,随着含水率下降,重塑土的SSC下降更快,对应的含水率范围更宽,最后进入残余−零收缩阶段时,孔隙比明显较小;Chertkov收缩模型适用于原状膨胀土,但不适用于重塑膨胀土。SEM测试结果表明,原状膨胀土较重塑膨胀土具有更强的原生结构性,初始密度与湿度相同情况下,两者颗粒排列、接触方式、胶结状态、孔隙大小与分布特征等微观结构上差异明显,导致蒸发过程中重塑土的水分迁移速率较小、基质吸力较大,是重塑土收缩更剧烈的内在原因。研究结果可为膨胀土边坡的坡面工程防护设计提供参考依据。     

膨胀土胀缩变形规律与灾害机制研究

采用普通固结仪和收缩仪分别进行蒙自重塑膨胀土浸水膨胀变形试验和膨胀土失水收缩变形试验,系统地研究了不同初始状态下膨胀土胀缩变形规律与致灾机制,并应用Does Response模型,定量模拟了膨胀土胀缩时程规律。研究表明,蒙自膨胀土胀缩变形差异较大,一般吸水膨胀率远大于失水收缩率,相似状态下试样膨胀系数越大,收缩系数亦越大,表现出较强的各向异性;膨胀土含有的大量细小黏土颗粒与较强的蒙脱石晶体矿物及显著的微结构特征,是其产生强烈胀缩变形灾害的内因与本质,而土中发育的微孔隙-裂隙结构及其初始状态,是发生胀缩变形灾害的外因。     

New design chart for geotechnical ground improvement: characterizing cement-stabilized sand

Cement stabilization of soil is a useful method to improve the mechanical behaviors and engineering performance of soils in geotechnical design and construction projects involving weak or liquefiable soils. Among the factors affecting the strength of cement-stabilized soils, water content and water–cement ratio are important but less well understood because of controversial views. This paper presents a systematic laboratory study to investigate the effects of water content and water–cement ratio on the unconfined compressive strength, with good control of the packing density and void ratio of the tested specimens. The effects of void ratio and cement content are also investigated. The strength of the cement-stabilized sand continuously decreased with increasing water–cement ratio within the range of 0.5 to about 3. A general equation is suggested to evaluate the unconfined compressive strength of cement-stabilized soil. Finally, a new conceptual characterization chart is proposed with consideration of the effects of cement content, water content, and water–cement ratio.