The shape of loess particles reviewed

An important property of loess is a tendency to collapse on loading and wetting (hydroconsolidation) which can have serious consequences worldwide for civil engineering projects. This paper describes the use of Monte Carlo and other analytical techniques to predict the shape of naturally occurring loess particles. Randomly generated particles are classified according to Zingg shape categories: disc, sphere, blade and rod. By assuming a uniform distribution for the basic particle, average relative dimensions are calculated for the blade category, into which most loess particles have been shown to fall.     

Grain size characteristics and genesis of the Muxing loess in the Muling-Xingkai Plain,Northeast China

Thick loess is deposited on the platform in the piedmont zone of Muling-Xingkai Plain(Muxing Plain), but the genesis of the Muxing loess is still unclear. The aims of this study are to analyze the grain size characteristics of Muxing loess collected from the cores of a typical borehole(ZK1) in the piedmont zone of Muxing Plain, and to verify its genesis. The Muxing loess is mainly composed of the particles with diameter less than 50 μm, with an average content of 92.48%. The coarse silt particles with diameter of 10-50 μm are the basic composition of aeolian sediments, and their average content is 44.34% for the Muxing loess, which is the mode class among the particles with different diameters. The grain size parameters and frequency curves are similar to those of the typical aeolian sediments. The distribution characteristic of the Muxing loess in the C-M scatter diagram is consistent with that of the Xi Feng loess. In addition, the discriminant analysis shows the Muxing loess mostly consists of aeolian sediments. Therefore, it can be concluded that the Muxing loess mainly resulted from aeolian deposition based on the grain size characteristics. Muxing Plain is dominated by the monsoon climate, and the wind-blown dusts are gradually deposited after being transported over long distances.     

陕北黄土高原不同地貌类型区黄土滑坡频率分布

黄土滑坡是西北地区最为严重的地质灾害.频率分布对于区域滑坡风险评估具有重要的意义,借鉴粒度分析方法研究黄土滑坡分布情况,提出滑坡规模径概念,并通过Gamma分布函数对滑坡规模频率曲线进行了拟合.结果表明:(1) 在区域尺度上,可以借鉴粒度分析的理论和方法分析区域滑坡规模百分含量;(2) 在双对数坐标下,频率曲线具有“偏转效应”,而Gamma分布函数在描述滑坡规模径频率分布方面具有广泛的适应性,能够很好地拟合黄土滑坡规模频率;(3) 无论是黄土滑坡的数量还是规模,以墚为主的黄土丘陵区宝塔区都是受滑坡灾害威胁最为严重的区域;但黄土地貌在由塬向峁区的演变过程中,黄土滑坡规模变异或离散程度逐渐减小.      

黄土颗粒结构特征及其对剪切行为的影响

微结构控制着黄土的宏观力学行为,进而影响着工程土体稳定性.本文通过X射线CT试验研究了陕西泾阳Q2黄土试样的三维颗粒结构特征,结合三轴剪切试验建立了黄土的颗粒流离散元数值计算模型,探讨了颗粒尺寸、形态和排列等结构特征对黄土剪切行为的影响.结果表明黄土试样颗粒的等效直径分布满足Weibull概率分布,球度分布符合Gamm...     

黄土沉积过程及微结构模型的非连续变形分析

黄土是一种具有特殊结构的多孔隙、弱胶结的松散沉积物,存在典型的微观架空结构,其力学行为是微观结构变形与破坏的宏观体现。从本质上揭示黄土的力学行为,需从黄土微结构出发,而黄土的物质组成和微结构特征受其特殊的风积成因所控制,基于此本文提出了一种模拟黄土沉积过程并构建其初始结构模型的方法。为了生成黄土沉积后所形成的微结构模型,并对其进行变形模拟,首先在确定黄土颗粒形态的基础上利用Monte Carlo法生成沉积前的黄土颗粒群,然后引入非连续变形分析方法(DDA)模拟颗粒的下落,该方法能够模拟颗粒下落过程中的相互碰撞及摩擦,由此建立与实际比较接近的黄土初始结构模型。从模型中可以识别出大、中、小3类孔隙结构和台阶(staircase)、重叠(stack)、点接触(point contact)、T型4种接触形式。对所生成的黄土结构模型进行不同压力下的压缩试验,选择不同部位的颗粒作出了径向分布函数,从微观角度说明了黄土在压缩过程中大孔隙和架空结构会首先被破坏。设计了与数值模拟相同条件下的物理模型试验,将两者试验结果进行对比,结果表明数值模拟与物理模型试验的e-lgp压缩曲线的趋势大致相同,表明所提出方法是可行的。该方法为进一步开展黄土力学行为的微观分析提供了基础。     

延安新区马兰黄土湿陷特性的PFC2D模拟

为了深入了解延安新区马兰黄土的粒间作用,揭示其湿陷机理。首先利用扫描电子显微镜观察了黄土的微观结构特征,并且利用IPP图像处理软件对黄土颗粒定量分析,论证了PFC2D软件模拟黄土粒间作用的可行性。然后,基于离散元理论,利用颗粒流PFC2D程序模拟了延安新区不同埋深原状黄土颗粒的分布情况及颗粒间相互作用,以一种直观的方法再现了天然黄土的微观结构特征。对比分析了不同深度黄土颗粒分布及接触力分布与湿陷性的关系。结果表明:骨架颗粒间的作用决定了土体的结构强度,尤其以团粒结构的接触力为主。随着深度的增加,黄土骨架颗粒由点接触方式逐渐过渡到团粒重叠接触,粒间接触力明显增强。PFC2D模拟方法为黄土湿陷性成因机理研究提供了新的思路。      

生石灰改良黄土的微观机制试验研究

为探究石灰掺量对黄土强度的影响规律及其微观机制,采用不同比例的生石灰对黄土进行改良。开展了直剪试验、压汞试验及扫描电镜测试,定性和定量分析素黄土及不同石灰掺量改良黄土的强度特性和微观结构变化规律,并对石灰改良黄土的微观机理进行较为深入的分析。结果表明:石灰改良黄土的抗剪强度参数随着石灰掺量的增大出现先增大再减小的变化规律,在石灰掺量约为8%时,其黏聚力和内摩擦角达到最大值;石灰的掺入使黄土骨架颗粒之间及其表面附着的胶结物逐渐增多,孔隙被胶结物质填充,土体中的不稳定孔隙逐渐减少,整体性增强;但当石灰掺量过大时,多余的石灰会堆积于团粒之间,影响团粒之间的胶结。石灰改良黄土强度提高的原因是石灰水化反应生成的胶结物质增强了土颗粒之间的胶结程度,增大颗粒间的相互摩擦,使土体结构更加稳定,提高土体强度;石灰掺量过高时,改良黄土抗剪强度降低是因为过量的石灰影响了土颗粒之间的胶结作用。研究成果既是对黄土强度特性及微观结构理论研究的丰富与充实,又可以为改良黄土工程设计的相关参数选取提供参考依据。      

延安晚更新世黄土颗粒微观各向异性特征及其成因分析

土颗粒的形状及其空间方位的择优取向是导致宏观土体各向异性的重要原因之一.以具有明显各向异性的晚更新世马兰黄土为研究对象,借助Quanta FEG型电子显微镜扫描照片所包含的相关信息,揭示其微结构在水平向和垂直向上的差异,并对该微观结构的各向异性成因进行了分析.发现:(1)水平向和垂直向切片中颗粒的圆形度R0具有正态分布...     

长江三角洲第一硬质黏土层粒度多元统计分析及沉积环境判别

长江三角洲第一硬质黏土层成因是长期争论的问题。对上海市青浦区第一硬质黏土层全样粒度多元统计分析,并与南京周家山下蜀黄土、长江悬浮颗粒物对比,探索长江三角洲第一硬质黏土层成因。第一硬质黏土层机械颗粒组成均一,频率曲线呈正偏态、中等或尖锐峰形的双峰分布,频率累积曲线呈"S"型分布,具有风成沉积特性。粒度特征分析为沉积环境判别提供沉积学证据时,综合运用多元统计分析可以使分析结果更准确。聚类分析将硬黏土与典型风成沉积物下蜀黄土粒度分布归为一类,长江悬浮颗粒物单独为一类,表明硬黏土与下蜀黄土成因一致。下蜀黄土与长江悬浮颗粒物粒度参数判别函数,将绝大部分硬黏土样品判定为风成沉积。粒级—标准偏差曲线结合现代风场,显示硬黏土粒度特征存在高空西风和低空西北季风两个主控因子。表明长江三角洲第一硬质黏土层是由西风和西北季风控制的风成成因堆积物。     

基于Fredlund粒度分布曲线方程的中国黄土粒度分析

粒度分布曲线是土壤最基本的土性参数之一,通过数学方程预测粒度分布曲线将为工程勘察节省大量成本。Fred? lund建立在Fredlund和Xing土水特征曲线方程基础上的粒度分布曲线方程已被证明适用于多种土类,但其对中国黄土的有 效性很少得到验证。本文采用Fredlund粒度分布曲线方程对黄土高原7个地区18个黄土样的粒度分布曲线进行了拟合,结 果表明Fredlund粒度分布曲线方程与中国黄土的粒度分布曲线拟合度高,拟合参数稳定且呈规律性变化,能够很好地反映 中国黄土的地域性。本文得到的参数可用于各个地区的粒度分布曲线预测,并对黄土粒径分析及分类具有指导意义。     

黄土高原马兰黄土粘土矿物的定量研究

本文在回顾和总结中国西北黄土粘土矿物研究进展的基础上,提供了采用现代X-射线衍射(XRD)定量测试技术(包括粘土矿物样品处理和全自动数据处理技术)对陕北晋西12个县市马兰黄土粘土矿物定量研究的最新结果。测试结果表明,马兰黄土的主要粘土矿物为伊利石／蒙脱石混层矿物(相对含量为60％～70％),而不是以往所认为的伊利石。伊利石在黄土中主要呈两种形式存在,即单矿物伊利石和伊／蒙混层矿物中的伊利石。研究还发现,各地马兰黄土粘土矿物组成变化不大,但在神木、河曲、偏关一带伊／蒙混层比有局部增高的现象。根据扫描电子显微镜观察,黄土中粘土矿物不是以单粒形式存在,而主要是以集粒粘附物的形式包裹在碎屑颗粒表面。黄土中粘土矿物组成及其存在形式一方面可以充分揭示黄土物源区的表生化学环境特征;另一方面,伊／蒙混层矿物作为一种广泛分布的膨胀性粘土矿物和它在黄土粘土矿物中所占地位,对于认识马兰黄土在水作用下的湿陷变形和强度衰减的本质具有重要意义。     

Thermoluminescence dating of an upper pleistocene site,Northern Pakistan

Thermoluminescence (TL) dates are presented for the Upper Pleistocene loess sequence that overlies a Paleolithic site 14.5 km southeast of Rawalpindi, northern Pakistan (lat. 33° 30′ 30″ long. 73° 10′ 40″). These dates provide the first dating of Pleistocene blade assemblages in Pakistan, and also indicate that the loess is associated with the last, and not just the penultimate, glaciation of the Himalayas as had been previously thought. The site includes the remains of a structure and numerous blade tools, and may have been used for skin-working or some comparable activity. The ten TL dates presented span the age range 64–24 ka, and imply an early date for blade industries in the northern part of the Indian sub-continent of ca. 45–42 ka.     

Fractal characteristics of loess formation: evidence from laboratory experiments

The fractal is presented as a method for describing the geometry of particles, with particular reference to the breakdown of granular soils and the formation of loess. The preliminary results are reported: (a) for the extent to which silt due to comminution exhibits a fractal distribution; (b) the tendency of fractal dimension to change with the comminution process; and (c) the relationship between fractal dimension describing particle size distribution and the grinding time. Laboratory simulation confirms the general tendency of fractal characteristics to reflect the size reduction process.     

复合改性水玻璃加固黄土微观特征研究

进行压汞试验和SEM-EDS试验研究复合改性前后水玻璃加固黄土,分析其孔隙分布特征、颗粒和孔隙形态以及胶结物形态和化学元素含量,探讨宏观力学特性与微观特征的联系。压汞测试结果表明,改性前后加固黄土具有相近的孔隙分布特征,入口孔径主要分布在0.06～8 ?m之间,大、中、小和微孔隙分界值分别为8、2、0.06 ?m,加固时生成的凝胶填充作用不显著。SEM-EDS测试结果表明,改性后黄土仍保持其粒状、架空、接触-胶结结构不变,但加入硅酸钾材料后黄土颗粒表面变得粗糙并吸附有絮状物,EDS数据显示K元素含量随着硅酸钾掺入量的增加而增大,且试样无侧限强度与K元素百分含量正相关。研究还表明,土的颗粒联结强度和结构形态特征是导致黄土宏观力学性质差异的本质原因,在复合改性水玻璃加固黄土时在保持黄土架空孔隙基本不变的前提下,生成的含K凝胶在改变颗粒表面形态的同时强化了骨架颗粒之间的连接强度,从而改善了土体的强度。     

非饱和土粒间毛细作用的微观不连续变形分析

非饱和土粒间毛细水作用是其基质吸力的主要来源.本文基于二维非连续变形分析算法(DDA),建立了一种能够模拟不同饱和度下毛细水分布状态及计算土水特征曲线的扩展DDA算法.该算法首先通过反复迭代的方式来计算出不同饱和度下毛细水弯液面的半径,并利用圆心轨迹交汇法确定粒间毛细水弯液面与颗粒的搭接位置,从而确定各个颗粒表面被毛细...     

Dust transport and the question of desert loess formation

Although contemporary dust storms are frequent in arid and semi-arid areas, desert loess deposits are poorly developed. Much of the World's loess occurs in mid-latitude areas which experienced glaciation during the Pleistocene. Ocean core evidence indicates that dust transport from sub-tropical deserts increased during cold stages of the Pleistocene, but loess formed only on certain desert margins, for reasons which have not been fully explained. This paper re-examines the mechanisms of dust transport and deposition, and the circumstances leading to the accumulation of thick loess. Typical loess is composed mainly of medium silt grains which are transported in short-term suspension a few metres above the ground. Significant thicknesses of loess form only when dust is trapped within a limited area, often relatively close to the source. Dust particles finer than 20 μm are transported mainly in long-term suspension over a greater height range and may be widely dispersed. The availability of silt and the frequency, magnitude and direction of dust-transporting winds are important factors governing the potential for loess formation, but the existence of a suitable dust trap is particularly important. Traps may be formed by topographic obstacles, areas of moist ground, or vegetated surfaces. Vegetation adjacent to glacial outwash plains and braided meltwater streams trapped dust in mid-latitudes during the Pleistocene. Dust blown during glacial periods from certain deserts, notably in Sinai, Soviet Central Asia and China, accumulated as loess in neighbouring semi-arid regions. On the margins of other deserts loess formation was inhibited partly by the absence of vegetation traps. During most of the Holocene net dust deposition rates in all desert-marginal areas have been too low for significant loess accumulation. This is mainly due to a reduction in silt availability and a tendency towards landscape stability. Reported dust storm frequencies during the past 50 years over-estimate the longer-term Holocene dust flux due to the effects of human activities. Much modern dust owes its origin to erosion of cultivated soils in semi-arid areas and is finer than typical loess.     

Effects of lime treatment on the hydraulic conductivity and microstructure of loess

Lime treatment of loess in foundation engineering modifies the soil structure, leading to changes in mechanical and hydraulic properties of soil, which in turn will affect the flow of water and transport of contaminants in the loess. In light of this, it is essential to identify the dominant effects of different lime treatments on hydraulic conductivity, and to ascertain the optimum lime treatment. For this purpose, we investigated the effects of dry density and lime content on changes in hydraulic conductivity and microstructure of loess in Yan’an City, China. The results indicate that hydraulic conductivity has a log negative correlation with dry density, and lime addition can result in a decrease of hydraulic conductivity of loess at the same dry density. Under a given degree of compaction, however, lime addition can lead to a decrease in dry density due to an increase in flocculation and aggregations. The significant decrease of dry density leads to an increase in hydraulic conductivity when lime content (in mass percentage) is lower than 3%. Nevertheless, when lime content is higher than 3%, the reactions between loess particles and lime will be intensified with an increase in lime content, and become the primary factors affecting pore characteristics. These reactions can further decrease the hydraulic conductivity of lime-treated loess, and the lowest hydraulic conductivity was obtained for lime-treated loess with 9% lime content. The excess lime (above 9% lime content) dramatically increased pore size, leading to a significant increase in hydraulic conductivity. Therefore, 9% is the optimum lime content for loess treatment, and the degree of compaction in engineering should be higher than 95%. In addition, statistical analysis of microstructure of lime-treated loess shows that the distribution trends of macro- and meso-pores coincided with that of saturated hydraulic conductivity, which indicates that lime content affects saturated hydraulic conductivity of lime-treated loess by changing the soil structure, especially the properties of pores larger than 8 µm.     

Paleogeographic provinces of the periglacial loess association in the middle Volga basin

Specific features of the formation and distribution of periglacial loess association in the Volga region are discussed. Based on generalization of the results of the systematic paleogeographic analysis, the paper presents a comprehensive characteristic of the polygenetic and polychronous loess rocks. The results show regional specifics in the structure and composition of loess rock horizons confined to different-aged paleogeographic zones of the Russian Plain. Provincial discrepancies in the distribution and thickness of loess rocks are demonstrated in the summary map. Comparison of the complex characteristics of the loess rocks provides insight into the general trend of spatiotemporal variability of their structure and composition. Latitudinal zonation is manifested in the thickening of loess rock sequences along the distal direction of the paleoglacial zone (on the average, from 1.3 m to 5–10 m or more) and is usually accompanied by increase in contents of the silty material and carbonates and degree of sagging. Moreover, the stratigraphic structure of sections becomes more complicated with increase of the age interval of loess–soil series. The spatiotemporal trends, which are revealed in the development and periodicity of loess formation, have a great significance for the reconstruction of paleogeographic events in the Neopleistocene.     

An overview of the role of weathering in the production of quartz silt

Quartz silt is a widespread detrital sediment with large aeolian (loess) and alluvial silt deposits forming important components of many contemporary landscapes. Despite research findings which indicate that a range of opportunities exist for the comminution of quartz into silt particles within a wide variety of geomorphic environments (e.g. glacial grinding, fluvial comminution, aeolian abrasion, frost weathering, salt weathering, insolation weathering and deep weathering), the ‘glacial-aeolian’ hypothesis has traditionally been favoured as the most likely explanation for loess formation and loess is seen as primarily a Quaternary phenomenon. As a consequence there has been a tendency to underestimate sediment inputs into loess systems by geomorphological processes operating within pre-Quaternary environments. In particular, earth scientists may have considerably underestimated the role of weathering in global silt generation, as there are now many references to the existence of a patchy but widespread distribution of pre-Quaternary weathering profiles across the glacial and periglacial landscapes of the Northern Hemisphere (e.g. North America, British Isles, north and central Europe), landscapes within which many of the classical loess deposits are located. These observations suggest that weathering profiles may have covered large tracts of the Northern Hemisphere land surface prior to the Quaternary glaciations. This, in turn, may have important implications for quartz silt generation as: (1) experimental studies indicate that many weathering processes are capable of generating significant quantities of silt-sized debris, and (2) particle characteristics displayed by saprolitic material that has developed on quartz rich crystalline source rocks often include significant quantities of either silt-sized material, or quartz grains that are weakened by weathering derived microfractures. Thus, weathering profiles may represent ‘mines’ of actual and potential quartz silt, available for release into sedimentary systems when these profiles are subsequently reworked by geomorphological processes such as glacial, fluvial and aeolian erosion.     

冻融循环作用下黄土无侧限抗压强度和微观规律的试验研究

青海地处多年冻土地区,属于青藏高原大陆性气候带,冻融循环是路基和地基基础的一种常见破坏因素,为研究冻融循环作用对青海地区实际工程的影响,揭示冻融循环作用对其损害的机理,通过对青海西宁地区原状黄土和重塑黄土进行冻融循环试验、无侧限抗压强度试验和电镜扫描试验,分析不同冻融温度和不同冻融循环次数对原状黄土、重塑黄土无侧限抗压强度和微观结构的影响。结果表明:当黄土经历0～6次冻融循环时,原状黄土和重塑黄土的强度逐渐降低,而8～10次冻融循环后其强度先增大后趋于稳定;原状黄土的强度随冻融温度降低而降低,而重塑黄土的强度随冻融温度降低先增大后减小;从微观角度分析,冻融温度的降低和冻融循环次数的增加,均导致黄土大颗粒逐渐分解为小颗粒,颗粒的排列方式发生改变。