Modeling of the swelling–shrinkage behavior of expansive clays during wetting–drying cycles

Acta Geotechnica - This paper presents a constitutive model for simulating the swelling–shrinkage volume change of expansive soils during wetting–drying cycles. Based on the concept of...     

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.     

Experimental investigations on the elastic parameters and uniaxial compressive strength of slate under freeze–thaw cycles

ABSTRACT

In this study, uniaxial compression experiments with seven different bedding angles and six numbers of freeze–thaw cycles were conducted to investigate the influences of freeze–thaw cycles on the elastic parameters and the uniaxial compressive strength of slate. The laws of the elastic parameters, uniaxial compressive strength and failure characteristics were analysed, and a new uniaxial compressive strength prediction model that considers the bedding angle and the number of freeze–thaw cycles as control variables was established and verified using the experimental data. The results showed that the uniaxial compressive strength, elastic modulus and shear modulus decreased exponentially with an increasing number of freeze–thaw cycles. However, the Poisson’s ratio increased linearly with an increasing number of freeze–thaw cycles. The uniaxial compressive strength initially decreased and then increased with increasing bedding angle. There are three forms of failure occurred during the tests: when the bedding angle was 0°≤β ≤ 26.6°, the splitting failure and shear failure occurred at the same time; when the bedding angle was 26.6°≤β ≤ 83.0°, sliding failure occurred along the bedding plane; and when the bedding angle was 83.0°≤β ≤ 90°, splitting failure occurred along the axial direction of sample.     

Thermo-hydro-mechanical process and damage mechanism of a cold-region canal under coupled wetting–drying and freezing–thawing cycles

Acta Geotechnica - In cold regions, periodic wetting–drying and freezing–thawing (WDFT) actions lead to frequent and heavy canal damage, weakening the water-conveyance capacities of...     

Estimation of tensile strength of sandy soil from soil–water characteristic curve

Acta Geotechnica - During heavy rainfalls, the surface soil on a slope may be eroded and the erosion is much dependent on the tensile strength of soil. In addition, the tensile strength of soil is...     

Effect of wetting–drying cycles on swelling behavior of lime stabilized sand–bentonite mixtures

In the present study, influence of wetting–drying cycles on swelling pressures of sand–bentonite mixtures used in the construction of sanitary landfills to have an impermeable liner was investigated before and after lime treatment of the mixtures. Swelling pressure tests were conducted to see if the swelling pressures were affected by wetting–drying cycles. First series of specimens were prepared as a mixture of sand and bentonite only. In the first series of specimens, sand was mixed with bentonite in various proportions with their optimum water contents and compacted by using standard proctor energy. In the second series of the specimens, lime in various proportions was added to the mixtures of sand–bentonite. Then, the sand–bentonite mixtures stabilized by lime were compacted with the standard proctor energy at their optimum moisture contents. Five wetting–drying cycles were performed on each specimen and values of swelling pressures were measured at the end of each cycle. Results of swelling pressure tests indicated that the swelling pressure is decreased when lime is added to the mixtures. In addition, decrements were observed on swelling pressures by wetting–drying cycles. The results of the experiments of this investigation showed that the beneficial effect of lime stabilization to control the swelling pressures was partly lost by the wetting–drying cycles. However, the test results indicated that the swelling pressures of the specimens made of sand–bentonite mixtures stabilized by lime were lower than the swelling pressures of the specimens made of only sand–bentonite mixtures.     

Changes in strength,hydraulic conductivity and microstructure of superabsorbent polymer stabilized soil subjected to wetting–drying cycles

Acta Geotechnica - Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are environmentally friendly stabilizers to improve the engineering properties of excavated soils with high water contents. The present study aims...     

Impact of wetting–drying cycles on the hydraulic conductivity of liners made of lime-stabilized sand–bentonite mixtures for sanitary landfills

In this study, an investigation was performed to determine if lime-stabilized sand–bentonite mixtures are appropriate for the construction of sanitary landfills liners. For this aim, the hydraulic conductivity tests were conducted in the laboratory on sand–bentonite mixtures and lime-stabilized sand–bentonite mixtures to evaluate the effect of wetting–drying cycles. The hydraulic conductivity tests were performed to see if their hydraulic conductivities are affected by wetting–drying cycles. First series of specimens have been prepared as a mixture of sand and bentonite only. In the first series of specimens, sand was mixed with bentonite in proportions of 20, 30, 40, and 50 %. In the second series of the specimens, lime in proportions of 1, 2 and 3 % by weight was added to the mixtures of sand–bentonite in proportions of 20, 30, 40, and 50 %. From the results of the tests, it was observed that while optimum water content increased, maximum dry density decreased with addition of lime to the sand–bentonite mixtures. Generally, the hydraulic conductivity increased with the addition of lime to the mixtures but at low percentages of lime (1–2 %), however, slight decreases in k were recorded. It was also observed that the wetting–drying cycles on the permeability test indicate cure effect on specimens with addition of lime which resulted in decreased the hydraulic conductivity.     

Estimation of unsaturated shear strength from soil–water characteristic curve

Acta Geotechnica - Many shallow foundations are constructed within the soil layer above the groundwater table, where the soil remains unsaturated, and the failure of shallow foundation is mostly...     

Experimental study on deformation of remolded sulfate saline soil under freeze-thaw cycles北大核心CSCD

季节冻土区特殊的温湿环境造成盐渍土累积变形是导致众多工程问题的主要原因,但其变形破坏机理尚不十分明确。通过配制不同含盐量的粉土开展冻融循环试验,研究试验过程中温度、未冻水含量、孔隙水压力、基质吸力和位移的变化规律。结果表明：孔隙水压力和基质吸力对土体温度敏感,对土体变形有重要影响。类比于非饱和土有效应力原理,给出了冻结盐渍土的有效应力方程,将土体变形分为温度应变、盐胀、冻胀、溶陷、融沉和残余应变,很好地解释了冻结盐渍土的变形机理。研究了含盐量对土体变形的影响程度,发现低含盐量时土体应变以冻胀和融沉为主;随着含盐量的增加,盐胀和溶陷的贡献越来越大;而含盐量为1%时土体变形最小,表明适当控制含盐量可有效抑制土体变形。     

Microstructural evolution of expansive clay during drying–wetting cycle

Acta Geotechnica - This paper presents a comprehensive investigation on the microstructural evolutions of expansive clay during a drying–wetting cycle, including pore size distribution (PSD)...     

Global representation of the drying–wetting curves of four engineering soils: experiments and correlations

The main objective of this paper is to examine how different engineering soils react to environmental variations and to provide correlations to characterize their behaviour under null external mechanical stress. Two French and two Algerian soils with liquid limits ranging from 36 to 112 were prepared under both slurry and Proctor compaction conditions, and then subjected to drying–wetting paths with suction controlled from several kPa to several hundreds of MPa. Experimental results are presented in five diagrams to show globally and simultaneously the shrinkage–swelling, saturation–desaturation and water retention characteristics. A reasonable consistency was observed between the oedometric and drying curves of slurry, confirming the equivalence between hydraulic loading (suction) and mechanical loading (consolidation stress) on the volume change behaviour of different soils. As an intrinsic parameter of soil nature, liquid limit was found to have a significant influence on the shrinkage limit, air-entry suction and compressibility of both slurry and compacted samples. For that reason, correlations between these characteristics and liquid limit were set up, providing a good basis for a first estimation of the drying–wetting curves. At the micro-scale, new experimental results were obtained: either on drying or wetting path, the micro-pores were almost unaffected, whereas, when matrix suction increased from 0.1 to 8 MPa, the volume of macro-pores decreased to quasi-closure. At last, the analogy between the compaction and drying–wetting curves, and the comparison of different methods to determine the water retention curve were addressed. Such analogies and comparisons contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of mechanical stress and suction.     

Experimental study on the electrical resistivity of soil–cement admixtures

Recently in China, soil–cement is widely used to improve the soft ground in the highway construction engineering. Literature studies are mainly investigating the mechanical properties of the soil–cement, while its properties of the electrical resistivity are not well addressed. In this paper, the properties of the electrical resistivity of the reconstituted soil-cement and the in situ soil–cement columns are investigated. The test results show that the electrical resistivity of the soil–cement increases with the increase in the cement-mixing ratio and curing time, whereas it decreases with the increase in the water content, degree of saturation and water–cement ratio. A simple equation is proposed to predict the electrical resistivity of soil–cement under the condition of the specified curing time and water–cement ratio. It is found that the electrical resistivity has a good relationship with the unconfined compression strength and blow count of SPT. It is expected that the electrical resistivity method can be widely used for checking/controlling the quality of soil–cement in practice.     

Construction of soil–water characteristic curve of granular materials with toroidal model and artificially generated packings

Acta Geotechnica - The soil–water characteristic curve (SWCC) of granular materials is crucial for many emerging engineering applications, such as permeable pavement and methane hydrate...     

Soil water retention behavior and microstructure evolution of lateritic soil in the suction range of 0–286.7 MPa

Acta Geotechnica - This paper presents an experimental investigation of the soil water retention curve (SWRC) and volume change curve over a large suction range (0–286.7 MPa), and...     

Experimental study of the mechanical and thermal properties of lignin fiber-stabilized loess under freeze-thaw cycles北大核心CSCD

冻融循环作用是造成寒区工程病害的主要因素之一。为探究冻融循环对木质素纤维改良黄土力学和热学的影响,通过轻型击实试验、冻融循环试验、不固结不排水三轴剪切试验、热常数分析试验和X射线衍射试验,以木质素纤维掺量、冻融循环次数和围压为变量展开研究。结果表明：随着掺量的增加,改良黄土的最大干密度降低,最优含水率升高;随着冻融循环次数的增加,试样的应力-应变曲线由应变硬化型向应变弱软化型转变;试样的质量损失率、破坏强度、弹性模量、黏聚力、内摩擦角和导热系数均随着冻融循环次数的增加呈下降趋势,在经历第1次冻融循环后衰减率最高,并且总是在掺量为5%时达到最大值;试样的破坏强度和黏聚力在经历6~9次冻融循环后趋于稳定;黄土及掺量为5%的改良黄土在X射线衍射分析中成分相似,未发现新的物质生成,因此,木质素纤维是一种绿色的物理固化材料。该研究成果可为寒区土体加固提供新思路。     

Weakening laws of slip zone soils during wetting–drying cycles based on fractal theory: a case study in the Three Gorges Reservoir (China)

Acta Geotechnica - Slip zone soils play a crucial role in the evolution of landslides. In this paper, slip zone soils of the Huangtupo Landslide in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, which is an...     

Experimental investigation of dry density effects on dielectric properties of soil–water mixtures with different specific surface areas

The dielectric constant of soil is used to estimate its water content in a range of applications. Unlike the widely known effect of water content on the soil dielectric constant (consistent direct proportionality), only a limited number of studies have reported the effects of soil dry density, however, with equivocal results. This paper, therefore, investigates the effects of dry density or degree of compaction on the dielectric constant of five different soil types. The results of the experimental work for the soils ranging from sand to Bentonite clay with distinct specific surface areas were evaluated based on the use of two simple mixture models (De Loor and Birchak). The effects of dry density on the soil dielectric constant were found to be soil type dependent. This is demonstrated by the experimental data and further proven by the modified De Loor model. The behavior is shown to be defined by the changes in the free water, bound water, and solid particle volume fractions, ultimately controlled by the soil specific surface area. The dielectric constant changes from being directly proportional to dry density to inversely proportional at a threshold specific surface area of between 122 and 147 m²/g. Supported by the experimental observations, parametric analysis has revealed that the range for the dielectric constant of bound water was found to be 9–37, while the geometrical parameter α in the Birchak model was found to be 0.4–0.8.

     

Experimental investigations on ultimate bearing capacity of peat stabilized by a group of soil–cement column: a comparative study

The aim of this paper was to determine the ultimate vertical bearing capacity of rectangular rigid footings resting on homogeneous peat stabilized by a group of cement deep mixing (CDM) columns. For this purpose, a series of physical modeling tests involving end-bearing and floating CDM columns were performed. Three length/depth ratios of 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 and three area improvement ratios of 13.1, 19.6, and 26.2 % were considered. Bearing capacity of the footings was studied using different analytical procedures. The results indicated that compared to unimproved peat, the average ultimate bearing capacity (UBC) improvement of floating and end-bearing CDM columns were 60 and 223 %, respectively. The current study found that simple Brom’s method predicted the UBC of the peat stabilized with floating CDM columns with reasonable accuracy, but underestimated the UBC by up to 25 % in the case of end-bearing CDM columns. Published laboratory experiences of stabilizing soft soils using soil–cement columns were also collated in this paper.