Dynamic Evolution of Desiccation Cracks and Their Relationship with the Hydraulic Properties of Expansive Soil
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 24, Issue 3
Abstract
The desiccation cracking of expansive soil plays a crucial role in the structural integrity and long-term stability of infrastructure foundations. While the occurrence of surface cracks and shrinkage deformation in expansive soil has been widely acknowledged, limited research has been conducted on the development pattern of internal cracks and their correlation with hydraulic properties. In this study, undisturbed samples of expansive soil were subjected to high-precision X-ray computed tomography scanning, and three-dimensional visualization and quantitative characterization of the cracks within the samples were conducted using the Avizo (version 2022.1) software analysis platform. Additionally, seepage simulations were employed to study the relationship between crack structure and the hydraulic properties of expansive soil. The results indicate that the desiccation process led to a significant increase in the volume content and connectivity of cracks in the expansive soil. Based on their connecting states, the cracks were classified into interconnected and isolated categories. Regression analysis suggests that the degree of cracking in expansive soil is predominantly determined by the interconnected cracks. The initiation, propagation, and coalescence of desiccation cracks substantially augmented the number of flow paths and enhanced the hydraulic conductivity of the soil. This study elucidates the microscopic evolution of desiccation cracking in expansive soil, offering a better understanding of the relationship between the three-dimensional characteristics of crack structure and their hydraulic properties.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request, including models and laboratory test data.
Acknowledgments
The present study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12102312 and 42177148), the Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (SKLGME021018), and the Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (SKLGP2021K011). The authors are grateful for the help provided by anonymous editors and reviewers.
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Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 24 • Issue 3 • March 2024
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 7, 2023
Accepted: Sep 10, 2023
Published online: Dec 27, 2023
Published in print: Mar 1, 2024
Discussion open until: May 27, 2024
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