Effect of Freeze–Thaw Cycles on Mechanical Strength and Microstructure of Silty Clay in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
Publication: Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
Volume 36, Issue 1
Abstract
Freeze–thaw (F–T) cycles exert a significant effect on engineering activities in cold regions, thus attracting increasing attention around the world. In this study, a set of triaxial compression tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray computerized tomography (X-ray CT) tests were conducted on silty clay samples with various moisture contents after different number of F–T cycles. The mechanical parameters of silty clay, such as peak shear strength and resilient modulus, and the microstructure evolution before and after F–T cycles were obtained. The results show that all the stress–strain curves of silty clay samples exhibit a strain-hardening behavior, and the higher the confining pressure is, the higher the hardening degree will be. The peak shear strength, resilient modulus, and cohesion of the silty clay samples are reduced after being exposed to F–T cycles. These parameters reach a minimum around the fifth cycle and gradually stabilize after 10 cycles. However, the change in internal friction angle induced by F–T cycles is trivial. With increased water content, the resilient modulus and cohesion decrease linearly. SEM and CT results show that the inner microstructure of silty clay sample becomes looser, and the pores and connections between soil particles deteriorate as the number of F–T cycles increase. The porosity of sample after five F–T cycles is higher than that before exposure to F–T cycles. The microstructural results agree well with the deterioration in the strength of silty clay.
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Acknowledgments
This work was financed by the National Key Technologies Research & Development Program (2018YFC0808403 and 2018YFE0123000), YueQi Young Scholar project (800015Z1185), Beijing Outstanding Young Scientist Program (BJJWZYJH01201911413037), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2021YJSNY17).
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Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
Volume 36 • Issue 1 • March 2022
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Sep 12, 2020
Accepted: Aug 30, 2021
Published online: Nov 25, 2021
Published in print: Mar 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Apr 25, 2022
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