A laboratory study of collapse behaviour of remoulded loess under controlled wetting and flooding

This paper presents the effect of initial placement conditions and flooding stress (vertical compressive stress at flooding) on the collapse potential of remoulded loess. Compacted specimens of loess were tested in a one-dimensional consolidometer to study the collapse behaviour. Initial water content, dry unit weight and flooding stress were varied. Collapse potential was found to be dependent on initial water content, initial dry unit weight and flooding stress. Partial collapse was studied by allowing measured increments of water into the specimens.     

堆石蠕变机理分析与颗粒破碎特性研究

根据大型压缩仪完成的堆石蠕变试验,结合颗粒破碎测试试验,对蠕变产生的机理进行了简要的理论分析,在力的作用下,细化破碎的堆石颗粒滑移充填孔隙是发生蠕变的重要原因。堆石颗粒的破碎可分为对应于主压缩变形的颗粒破碎和伴随蠕变变形的颗粒破碎。颗粒破碎引起堆石级配的细微改变,从而形成后期变形。     

Identification and distribution of intact polar branched tetraether lipids in peat and soil

Branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether lipids (GDGTs) are membrane lipids of soil bacteria that occur ubiquitously in soil, but their occurrence as intact polar lipids (IPLs) has not been well studied. Here, we report the identification and distribution of IPL-branched GDGTs throughout a depth profile of a Swedish peat bog. In addition to two reported glycosidic IPL branched GDGTs, we identified IPL branched GDGTs with a hexose-glycuronic acid, phospho-hexose, or hexose-phosphoglycerol head group, based on mass spectrometry. A selected reaction monitoring (SRM) assay was developed to monitor changes in head group distribution with depth. The abundance of the IPL branched GDGTs increased below the water table, suggesting that they were primarily produced in this part of the peat. This was supported by the concentrations of core lipid and IPL-derived branched GDGTs, which also substantially increased below the water table. However, individual IPL trends differed, which may be due to changes in the microbial community composition with depth or to different degradation rates for the different IPL branched GDGTs. The SRM method was also applied to two different soil types, which showed that similar IPL branched GDGTs as those in peat were present, albeit with different distributions.     

Creep behaviour of frozen soils in uniaxial compression tests

The stress—strain behaviour of frozen soils is often described by means of creep curves from uniaxial or triaxial creep tests. Ten or twelve tests of similar samples are required to obtain a good relationship between stress σ, strain ε, temperature T and time t or strain rate ε. To reduce the required number of samples it is possible to apply the compression load in creep tests stepwise. Therefore creep curves for different stress levels can be obtained from one sample.

In this paper the bearing capacity of cylindrical samples of frozen medium sand under constant uniaxial compression stress and under stepwise increased stresses is compared. It is shown how to use these different creep curves to describe the stress—strain behaviour of frozen soils.     

非饱和重塑黏土渗透性试验研究

工程中常常遇到非饱和土渗流问题,其渗透性是非饱和土的重要研究内容。采用常规压力板仪详细研究了重塑黏土在3种不同击实功和5种不同击实含水率下的土-水特征曲线,并用变水头法测量了相应的饱和土渗透系数。结合土水曲线和饱和渗透系数,基于Van Genuchten模型和Fredlund模型,详细探讨了重塑非饱和重塑黏土在不同击实条件下的渗透性。结果表明,土样饱和渗透系数随着击实含水率的增大而减小,且随着基质吸力的增大土样渗透性差别逐渐减小。当试样吸力达到1 MPa时,可认为不同击实含水率下试样的渗透性基本相同;在轻型击实和简化轻型击实下,试样渗透性很相似。重型击实功下试样的渗透系数和轻型击实下土样渗透系数的比值 随着吸力的增大而逐渐增大,在饱和状态时比值约为1/100,当吸力达到1 MPa时比值逐渐稳定在1/10右。     

The compression and collapse behaviour of intact loess in suction-monitored triaxial apparatus

Acta Geotechnica - Loess is susceptible to large and sudden volume reduction induced by loading or wetting. The work in this paper focused on compression and collapse behaviour of the intact loess...     

重塑黏土抗拉特性试验研究

利用应变控制式拉伸试验仪研究重塑黏性土的单轴抗拉特性,探究了含水率、干密度、高径比对试样应力应变曲线、抗拉强度、峰值应变以及拉伸能量的影响,并分析了其内在机理,讨论了土体抗拉强度的来源。试验结果表明:（1）含水率和干密度对抗拉强度影响很大,呈线性相关,具体表现为:含水率升高,抗拉强度先增大后减小;干密度越大,抗拉强度越大。在高径比相同的情况下,高度和直径的变化对抗拉强度影响不大;（2）峰值应变由应力应变曲线形态决定,因而主要受土样的抗拉强度、可塑性以及破坏方式影响;（3）应力应变曲线大致可分为四类,曲线形态各不相同;（4）拉伸能量由应力应变曲线形态决定。含水率影响试样的抗拉强度和塑性,干密度影响试样的抗拉强度和内部结构,因而两者对拉伸能量的影响很大。高径比不变时,试样高度和直径的变化对拉伸能量影响不大。     

冻土的蠕变及蠕变强度

基于试验，本本讨论分析了冻土三轴蠕变规律及温度和围压对冻土蠕变强度的影响，给出了土蠕变及蠕变强度随时间降低的方程式，进而提出了冻土蠕变强度的物型屈服准则。通过改变参数可将冻土的瞬时强度准则与冻土的瞬时强度准则与冻土的蠕变强度准则统一为同一个方程描述。     

Effects of ageing and overconsolidation on the elastic stiffness of a remoulded clay

Summary Results of resonant column tests were used to determine values of low amplitude shear modulus (G ₀) of a remoulded kaolinite clay for different durations of ageing and for different values of consolidation stress (₀) and overconsolidation ratio (OCR). It was found that after completion of primary consolidation the values of G ₀ increased linearly with the logarithm of time and after a week of confinement the value of normalized rate of secondary increase of shear modulus (N _G ) could be reliably estimated. Values of N _G were found to derease linearly with the logarithm of OCR and with the logarithm of ageing duration. This similarity of behaviour provided a basis for establishing an equivalency between age and equivalent overconsolidation ratio (OCR)_eq. The effects of ₀ and OCR on the value of G ₀ were also established in a functional form that indicated a stronger influence compared to that predicted by the Hardin Equation.     

Volcanoes and peat bogs

Peat bogs in the British Isles contain tephra from volcanic eruptions in Iceland; tephra in the Falkland Islands most likely derives from Andean volcanoes. Study of these far-travelled volcanic products is making a significant contribution to our understanding of past environmental changes.     

Compression Creep Characteristics and Creep Model Establishment of Gangue

How to describe the compression creep behavior of gangue is very essential for the design of gangue backfilling mining. In this paper, compression tests of two kinds of gangue are studied, finding that logarithmic function is suitable for describing its equal-time stress–strain relationship. Stress–strain–time relationship is proposed through modifying the Singh–Mitchell creep model based on the analysis of the test result, and this model can provide a design basis for gangue backfilling technology. Back analysis indicates that this model can basically describe the creep behavior of gangue with a few parameters that are easy to be determined. This research can provide a reference on the design of gangue backfilling mining, and on the subsidence value estimation.     

非饱和重塑黄土基质吸力变化特征与物理性质的关系

本文以兰州重塑黄土为对象,通过室内试验分析6组非饱和重塑黄土土-水特征曲线分段特征值与主要物性指标的统计关系,探讨了非饱和重塑黄土物理性质对其基质吸力变化特征的影响。结果表明,对于非饱和重塑黄土,分段特征含水量、特征饱和度、特征基质吸力与干密度关系密切,与颗粒级配关系较弱。随干密度增加,过渡区特征饱和度、残余饱和度线性增加,饱和含水量、过渡区特征含水量线性降低,残余基质吸力及过渡区特征基质吸力分别为线性及非线性增加。过渡区特征饱和度、残余饱和度与土体中粘粒含量线性正相关,与粉粒含量负相关。饱和含水量与粉粒含量线性正相关,残余基质吸力与其线性负相关。重塑黄土的微观结构显示这些关系受制于土体的孔隙结构和颗粒间的相互关系。     

重塑压实黏土Ⅰ型断裂试验研究

为探究重塑黏土Ⅰ型断裂韧度,本文在前人研究基础上,通过对应变控制式直剪仪进行改造,消除了传统三点弯曲试验对土体断裂韧度测试所带来的影响,研制了土体Ⅰ型断裂韧度测试仪,并对重塑黏土进行了一系列试验。试验结果表明:新研制出的土体Ⅰ型断裂韧度测试仪具有较好的可靠性;对具有相同物理状态的试样,U 形裂纹试样的断裂韧度最大,三角形裂纹试样的断裂韧度最小;试样的含水率和干密度其断裂韧度KIC具有显著影响,随含水率增加,断裂韧度呈现先增后减的变化规律,而随干密度增加,断裂韧度几乎线性增加;在试验采用的加载速率范围内,加载速率对断裂韧度的影响较小。     

Influence of marine organic compounds on the engineering properties of a remoulded sediment

Rashid, M.A. and Brown, J.D. 1975. Influence of marine organic compound on the engineering properties of a remoulded sediment. Eng. Geol., 9: 141–154The effect of low to moderate organic content on the engineering properties of a remoulded marine sediment was investigated by classificatin tests, undrained shear-strength tests, consolidation tests and triaxial compression tests. Sediment with a naturally occuring organic content of 2%, was treated to provide 0, 3, and 4% organic matter; first by reaction with hydrogen peroxide to remove the organic matter and then by addition of a naturally occuring humic compound in the latter two cases. In its natural state the sediment was classified as an organic sediment of low plsticity. Addition of the stated amounts of organic content did not result in the sediment being classified as organic; however, the remoulded undrained shear stregnth, the compressability, and the rheological behaivior of the sediment were significantly affected by ht evariations in the organic content. By contrast, the effects of these variations on the specific gravity, permeability, rate of consolidation and consolidated-undrained shear stregnth were not very marked.     

Holocene peat growth and decay dynamics in sub-arctic peat plateaus, west-central Canada

Peat and net carbon accumulation rates in two sub-arctic peat plateaus of west-central Canada have been studied through geochemical analyses and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating. The peatland sites started to develop around 6600–5900 cal. yr BP and the peat plateau stages are characterized by Sphagnum fuscum peat alternating with rootlet layers. The long-term peat and net carbon accumulation rates for both profiles are 0.30–0.31 mm/yr and 12.5–12.7 gC/m²yr, respectively. These values reflect very slow peat accumulation (0.04–0.09 mm/yr) and net carbon accumulation (3.7–5.2 gC/m²yr) in the top rootlet layers. Extensive AMS radiocarbon dating of one profile shows that accumulation rates are variable depending on peat plateau stage. Peat accumulation rates are up to six times higher and net carbon accumulation rates up to four times higher in S. fuscum than in rootlet stages. Local fires represented by charcoal remains in some of the rootlet layers result in very low accumulation rates. High C/N ratios throughout most of the peat profiles suggest low degrees of decomposition due to stable permafrost conditions. Hence, original peat accretion has remained largely unaltered, except in the initial stages of peatland development when permafrost was not yet present.     

可溶盐对兰州非饱和重塑黄土抗剪强度的影响

岩土体抗剪强度是分析评价斜坡稳定性的关键指标。为了弄清可溶盐在黄土抗剪特性中的作用程度及控制机制,以兰州重塑黄土为对象,基于直剪试验,研究了黄土抗剪强度及其参数在不同溶滤次数下的变化特征。结果显示,可溶盐对非饱和黄土抗剪强度及黏聚力具有明显非线性弱化作用,而对内摩擦角的影响则相对微弱。其中,抗剪强度与黏聚力随可溶盐的变化规律存在临界分段现象,其降低幅度在溶滤1次时达到最大值,在溶滤5次后近似于0;而降低速率以易溶盐含量2 620 mg/100 g干土为分界值,呈先快后慢的变化特征。上述关系的内在机制是,在溶滤初始阶段,黄土抗剪特性弱化主要源于易溶盐与部分难溶盐分解;随溶滤次数增加,则更多依赖于易溶盐分解与基质吸力减弱。     

吹填粉砂土固结蠕变试验及模型

通过分析法向应力、干密度、土样尺寸对吹填粉砂土蠕变特性的影响,深入研究其固结蠕变特性。与Kelvin模型相比,采用Burgers体模型能够更合理地阐释吹填粉砂土的蠕变曲线;采用FLAC^3D方法可开展吹填土蠕变过程的三维数值模拟。结果表明：吹填粉砂具有一定的蠕变特性,并可用幂函数描述应力-应变、应变-时间的关系;干密度一定时,法向应力愈大,初始应变愈大,达到稳定的时间愈长;法向应力一定时,干密度越大,初始变形越小,最终稳定所需时间越短;大尺寸试样（Ф 200.0 mm× H200.0 mm）的瞬时变形与蠕变形率要比标准尺寸（Φ 61.8 mm×H 20.0 mm）大,稳定所需时间要长;此外,Burgers体模型模拟吹填粉砂土固结蠕变变形优于广义Kelvin模型并具有可行性。     

Creep of rocksalt

A review is presented of the fundamental flow properties and processes in experimentally deformed natural and synthetic halite single crystals and polycrystalline aggregates. Included in the summary are discussions of: (a) microstructures induced during steady-state creep; (b) creep-rupture of rocksalt; (c) experiments associated with “Project Salt Vault” and more recent field studies; and (d) brine migration. A representative steady-state flow law determined for natural aggregates and maximum natural deviatoric stresses deduced from subgrain sizes are applied briefly to considerations of creep in waste repositories and of salt dome dynamics. While the mechanical behavior of rocksalt is probably better understood than for all other rock types, further investigations, especially on load path, stress history and creep-rupture are clearly mandated. Furthermore, additional investigations of brine migration and of bench and field-scale deformations are needed, the latter incorporating realistic rocksalt flow properties into numerical simulations of natural rock-mass response.     

A 3D composite finite element used to model a vertical drain and its surrounding remoulded soil

This work addresses an enrichment technique for the three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) analysis of a vertical drain foundation because (1) 1D and 2D simulations are insufficient to integrally describe the consolidation behaviour and (2) drains are small both in spacing and size, resulting in enormous computational costs for a traditional 3D FE analysis. Based on the idea of the semi-analytical finite element method (FEM), which combines general FEM with the high accuracy of a closed-form solution, a new spatial element that contains a drain well and its neighbouring smear zone is presented. This new combined element is depicted by eight global independent nodes and two local dependent nodes, and a classical analytical theory is introduced to set up the relationship between the two kinds of nodes. Because permeability diversity between the drain and the smear zone is considered, both the effects of smearing and well resistance are taken into account with the composite element method (CEM). A detailed derivation of the CEM is performed using the weighted residual method. The accuracy of the proposed method is validated with a totally penetrating, single-drain ground analysis for seven calculation conditions. Additionally, the proposed CEM saves 1/4–1/2 mesh elements and helps to avoid slender elements for the FEM analysis of the drained foundation.