Abstract
At present, the international evaluation method of loess collapsibility only evaluates loess once collapses, but some scholars have found that loess is characterized with the phenomenon of repeated collapsibility under certain conditions. To explore the characteristics of repeated collapsibility of loess and to find a simple and feasible method for evaluating repeated collapsibility of loess, this paper selects soil samples with different water content for repeated compression tests. Loess is a typical structural soil, and its structure is significantly weakened by water and pressure. This paper combines three main parameters influencing the structure of loess to define a comprehensive physical index and explores the relationship between the comprehensive physical index and the structural yield strength of loess under repeated collapsibility. Using the structural yield strength of loess to normalize the compression curve during repeated collapse, a method for evaluating repeated collapsing of loess has been proposed. This method combines the compression index of loess with the basic physical parameters of loess, which is more suitable for evaluating the repeated collapsibility of loess. By comparing the calculation results with the measured results, it was determined that this method has high accuracy. This method was used to calculate the coefficient of collapsibility of Guyuan loess, and the results show that loess with a moisture content of < 17% can collapse twice.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ASTM International (2003) ASTM D5333–03. Standard test method for measurement of collapse potential of soils. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA
Casagrande A (1936) The determination of pre-consolidation load and its practical significance. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering 3:93–108
Chen X, Luo YS, Cheng DW, Guo H (2011) Experimental study of loess structural strength and resistance coefficient. Appl Mech Mater 90:98–107. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.90-93.98
CNS, Mowr (2019) GB/T50123-2019. Standard for geotechnical testing method. China Planning Press, Bei**g in Chinese
Delage P, Audiguier M, Cui Y, Howat MD (1996) Microstructure of a compacted silt. Can Geotech J 33(1):150–158. https://doi.org/10.1139/t96-030
Dijkstra TA (2001) Geotechnical thresholds in the Lanzhou loess of China. Quatern Int 76–77(1):21–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1040-6182(00)00086-0
Gao G (1988) Formation and development of the structure of collapsing loess in China. Eng Geol 25(2–4):235–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7952(88)90029-4
Haeri SM, Garakani AA, Khosravi A, Meehan CL (2013) Assessing the hydro-mechanical behavior of collapsible soils using a modified triaxial test device. Geotech Test J 37. https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.4288.1608
Hao Q, Guo Z, Qiao Y, Xu B, Oldfield F (2010) Geochemical evidence for the provenance of middle Pleistocene loess deposits in southern China. Quat Sci Rev 29:3317–3326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2010.08.004
Jiang M, Zhang F, Hu H, Cui Y, Peng J (2014) Structural characterization of natural loess and remolded loess under triaxial tests. Eng Geol 181:249–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2014.07.021
Kim D, Kang S (2013) Engineering properties of compacted loesses as construction materials. KSCE J Civ Eng 17(2):335–341. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-013-0872-1
Li Y (2018) A review of shear and tensile strengths of the Malan Loess in China. Eng Geol 236:4–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.02.023
Liang C, Cao C, Wu S (2018) Hydraulic-mechanical properties of loess and its behavior when subjected to infiltration-induced wetting. Bull Eng Geol Environ 77:385–397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-016-0943-x
Liu Y, Cao GZ, Meng YG, Liu MX (2013) Study on the microstructure feature and strength mechanism of the Tien Lake Peat Soil. Adv Mater Res 864:2695–2702. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.864-867.2695
Lutenegger AJ (1981) Stability of loess in light of the inactive particle theory. Nature 291:360. https://doi.org/10.1038/291360a0
Lv Q, Wang S, Wang D, Wu Z (2014) Water stability mechanism of silicification grouted loess. Bull Eng Geol Environ 73(4):1025–1035. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-014-0646-0
Mei Y, Li Y, Wang X, Wang J, Hu C (2019) Statistical analysis of deformation laws of deep foundation pits in collapsible loess. Arab J Sci Eng 44(10):8347–8360. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-019-03931-6
Mihalache C, Buscarnera G (2015) Is wetting collapse an unstable compaction process? J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 141(2):420–432. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001226
Rogers CDF, Dijkstra TA, Smalley IJ (1994) Hydroconsolidation and subsidence of loess: studies from China, Russia, North America and Europe: In memory of Jan Sajgalik. Eng Geol 37(2):83–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7952(94)90045-0
Romero E, Simms PH (2008) Microstructure investigation in unsaturated soils: a review with special attention to contribution of mercury intrusion porosimetry and environmental scanning electron microscopy. Geotech Geol Eng 26(6):705–727. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-008-9204-5
Shao X, Zhang H, Tan Y (2018) Collapse behavior and microstructural alteration of remolded loess under graded wetting tests. Eng Geol 233:11–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.11.025
Sun JZ, Liu JM (2000) On unsaturated collapse, remnant collapse and multiple collapse of the loess. Chin J Geotech Eng 22(03):365–367 (In Chinese)
Wang L, Lu ZG, Shao S (2017) A composite power exponential nonlinear model of rock and soil. Chin J Rock Mechan Eng 36(05):1269–1278
Wang L, Shao S, She F (2019) A new method for evaluating loess collapsibility and its application. Eng Geol 264:105376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105376
**e WL, Li P, Zhang MS, Cheng TE, Wang Y (2018) Collapse behavior and microstructural evolution of loess soils from the Loess Plateau of China. J Mt Sci-Engl 15(8):1642–1657. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-018-5006-2
**e X, Qi S, Zhao F, Wang D (2017) Creep behavior and the microstructural evolution of loess-like soil from **’an area, China. Eng Geol 236:43–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.11.003
Yates K, Fenton CH, Bell DH (2017) A review of the geotechnical characteristics of loess and loess-derived soils from Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand. Eng Geol 236:11–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.08.001
Yuan ZX, Wang LM (2009) Collapsibility and seismic settlement of loess. Eng Geol 105:119–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2008.12.002
Funding
The research work of this paper is supported by the fund “Research on key technologies for construction and operation of Guyuan sponge city” (No. schm-2018–0302).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, H., Ni, W., Liu, H. et al. Study of the repeated collapsibility of undisturbed loess in Guyuan, China. Bull Eng Geol Environ 80, 6321–6330 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02304-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02304-4