Freeze-thaw deterioration of saline earthen sites under snowmelt or rainfall infiltration

CHEN Wen-wu; JIA Bo-bo; CAI Tao; CHEN Hao-xin; LI Xiang

doi:10.11779/CJGE202202015

Volume 44 Issue 2

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Abstract

References

Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering > 2022 > 44(2): 334-342. > DOI: 10.11779/CJGE202202015

CHEN Wen-wu, JIA Bo-bo, CAI Tao, CHEN Hao-xin, LI Xiang. Freeze-thaw deterioration of saline earthen sites under snowmelt or rainfall infiltration[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2022, 44(2): 334-342. DOI: 10.11779/CJGE202202015

Citation:

PDF (2425 KB)

Freeze-thaw deterioration of saline earthen sites under snowmelt or rainfall infiltration

1.
School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
2.
Key Laboratory of Mechanics on Disaster and Environment in Western China, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

More Information

Received Date: April 19, 2021
Available Online: September 22, 2022

Graphical Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

The changes of samples after freeze-thaw cycles under the initial conditions of snowmelt or rainfall infiltration are characterized considering the water content, conductivity, elastic wave velocity and unconfined compressive strength. Furthermore, the freeze-thaw deterioration mechanism of the saline earthen sites is studied based on the macroscopic and microstructure changes of the samples. The results show that during the freeze-thaw cycles, the water content of the samples increases first, then decreases and tends to be stable due to the water supply and evaporation loss of snowmelt and rainfall infiltration, and after migration with water, the salt is enriched at the height of 5 and 3.5 cm, respectively. The supplied water increases the thickness of bound water film between soil particles, and the elastic wave velocity and unconfined compressive strength of the samples decrease significantly. With the progress of freeze-thaw cycles, the water evaporates, and the wave velocity and strength of the samples increase gradually. The salt content and precipitation form are the key factors affecting the strength recovery of the samples. When its content is more than 0.4%, the increase of the content of Na₂SO₄ will reduce the strength recovery ratio of the samples. The addition of NaCl improves the strength recovery ratio of the samples, but slows down the strength recovery rate. After 12 freeze-thaw cycles, the snowmelt infiltration makes the soluble salt fully disperse in the samples, which is conducive to the recovery of soil, the accumulation of water and salt at the top of the samples leads to the formation of salt efflorescence and rolled mud. The rainfall infiltration makes microcracks develop and the proportion of macropores (> 16 μm) increase, the accumulation of water and salt at the wetting front leads to transverse cracks at the side of the samples, and the strength recovery speed and amplitude of the samples are small.
- snowmelt infiltration,
- rainfall infiltration,
- saline earthen site,
- freeze-thaw deterioration,
- microstructure

FullText(HTML)

References (23)

References

[1]	FUJII Y, FODDE E, WATANABE K, et al. Digital photogrammetry for the documentation of structural damage in earthen archaeological sites: The case of Ajina Tepa, Tajikistan[J]. Engineering Geology, 2009, 105(1/2): 124–133.
[2]	崔凯, 关喜鹏, 谌文武, 等. 干旱区土遗址掏蚀区土盐渍劣化与风蚀损耗效应(Ⅱ)[J]. 岩土工程学报, 2017, 39(10): 1777–1784. doi: 10.11779/CJGE201710004 CUI Kai, GUAN Xi-peng, CHEN Wen-wu, et al. Effects of salinized deterioration and aeolian ullage on soils in undercutting areas of earthern Ruins in arid regions(Ⅱ)[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2017, 39(10): 1777–1784. (in Chinese) doi: 10.11779/CJGE201710004
[3]	RICHARDS J, ZHAO G, ZHANG H, et al. A controlled field experiment to investigate the deterioration of earthen heritage by wind and rain[J]. Heritage Science, 2019, 7: 51. doi: 10.1186/s40494-019-0293-7
[4]	SHAO M S, LI L, WANG S J, et al. Deterioration mechanisms of building materials of Jiaohe Ruins in China[J]. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2013, 14(1): 38–44. doi: 10.1016/j.culher.2012.03.006
[5]	MAO W J, SHEN Y X, ZHU Y P, et al. Disentangling the deformation process of earthen sites and understanding the role of Na₂SO₄ and precipitation: a case study on the Great Wall Relics of the Ming dynasty in Yulin, China[J]. Studies in Conservation, 2021, 66(1): 51–63. doi: 10.1080/00393630.2020.1751976
[6]	ÖZGAN E, SERIN S, ERTÜRK S, et al. Effects of freezing and thawing cycles on the engineering properties of soils[J]. Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 2015, 52(2): 95–99. doi: 10.1007/s11204-015-9312-1
[7]	叶万军, 杨更社, 彭建兵, 等. 冻融循环导致洛川黄土边坡剥落病害产生机制的试验研究[J]. 岩石力学与工程学报, 2012, 31(1): 199–205. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-YSLX201201025.htm YE Wan-jun, YANG Geng-she, PENG Jian-bing, et al. Test research on mechanism of freezing and thawing cycle resulting in loess slope spalling hazards in Luochuan[J]. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 2012, 31(1): 199–205. (in Chinese) https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-YSLX201201025.htm
[8]	PU T B, CHEN W W, DU Y M, et al. Snowfall-related deterioration behavior of the Ming Great Wall in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau[J]. Natural Hazards, 2016, 84(3): 1539–1550. doi: 10.1007/s11069-016-2497-4
[9]	CUI K, WU G P, DU Y M, et al. The coupling effects of freeze-thaw cycles and salinization due to snowfall on the rammed earth used in historical freeze-thaw cycles relics in northwest China[J]. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 2019, 160: 288–299. doi: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2019.01.016
[10]	WANG X D, ZHANG B, PEI Q Q, et al. Experimental studies on sacrificial layer in conservation of earthen sites[J]. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2020, 41: 74–83. doi: 10.1016/j.culher.2019.07.003
[11]	STEWART I T. Changes in snowpack and snowmelt runoff for key mountain regions[J]. Hydrological Processes, 2009, 23(1): 78–94. doi: 10.1002/hyp.7128
[12]	谌文武, 魏大川, 雷宏, 等. 积雪覆盖下遗址土的强度劣化特征试验研究[J]. 兰州大学学报(自然科学版), 2019, 55(5): 655–660, 666. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-LDZK201905015.htm CHEN Wen-wu, WEI Da-chuan, LEI Hong, et al. Experimental study on strength deterioration characteristics of earthen sites covered by snow[J]. Journal of Lanzhou University (Natural Sciences), 2019, 55(5): 655–660, 666. (in Chinese) https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-LDZK201905015.htm
[13]	肖泽岸, 赖远明, 尤哲敏. 冻融循环作用下含盐量对Na₂SO₄土体变形特性影响的试验研究[J]. 岩土工程学报, 2017, 39(5): 953–960. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-YTGC201705028.htm XIAO Ze-an, LAI Yuan-ming, YOU Zhe-min. Experimental study on impact of salt content on deformation characteristics of sodium sulfate soil under freeze-thaw conditions[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2017, 39(5): 953–960. (in Chinese) https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-YTGC201705028.htm
[14]	SHOKRI-KUEHNI S M S, NOROUZI RAD M, WEBB C, et al. Impact of type of salt and ambient conditions on saline water evaporation from porous media[J]. Advances in Water Resources, 2017, 105: 154–161. doi: 10.1016/j.advwatres.2017.05.004
[15]	SHEN Y X, LINNOW K, STEIGER M. Crystallization behavior and damage potential of Na₂SO₄–NaCl mixtures in porous building materials[J]. Crystal Growth & Design, 2020, 20(9): 5974–5985.
[16]	林宗泽, 唐朝生, 曾浩, 等. 基于红外热成像技术的土体水分蒸发过程研究[J]. 岩土工程学报, 2021, 43(4): 743–750. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-YTGC202104021.htm LIN Zong-ze, TANG Chao-sheng, ZENG Hao, et al. Soil evaporation based on infrared thermal imaging technology[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2021, 43(4): 743–750. (in Chinese) https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-YTGC202104021.htm
[17]	NEFESLIOGLU H A. Evaluation of geo-mechanical properties of very weak and weak rock materials by using non-destructive techniques: Ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements and reflectance spectroscopy[J]. Engineering Geology, 2013, 160: 8–20. doi: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2013.03.023
[18]	BOCQUET L, CHARLAIX E, CILIBERTO S, et al. Moisture-induced ageing in granular media and the kinetics of capillary condensation[J]. Nature, 1998, 396: 24–31. doi: 10.1038/23830
[19]	ZHANG F Y, WANG G H, KAMAI T, et al. Undrained shear behavior of loess saturated with different concentrations of sodium chloride solution[J]. Engineering Geology, 2013, 155: 69–79. doi: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2012.12.018
[20]	ZHOU J Z, LI D Q. Numerical analysis of coupled water, heat and stress in saturated freezing soil[J]. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 2012, 72: 43–49. doi: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2011.11.006
[21]	LAI Y M, WU D Y, ZHANG M Y. Crystallization deformation of a saline soil during freezing and thawing processes[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2017, 120: 463–473. doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.04.011
[22]	ZHANG W P, SUN Y F, CHEN W W, et al. Collapsibility, composition, and microfabric of the coastal zone loess around the Bohai Sea, China[J]. Engineering Geology, 2019, 257: 105142. doi: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.05.019
[23]	ZHANG Q Y, CHEN W W, FAN W J. Protecting earthen sites by soil hydrophobicity under freeze-thaw and dry-wet cycles[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2020, 262: 120089. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120089

[1]	Doubts on the formula for anti overturning stability of gravity retaining walls[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. DOI: 10.11779/CJGE20240951
[2]	GAO Jiang-ping, LIU Wen-zhi, YANG Ji-qiang. Formulas for bearing capacity of soft soil foundations with hard crust based on three-shear stress unified strength theory[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2019, 41(12): 2331-2337. DOI: 10.11779/CJGE201912019
[3]	ZHAO Qian-yu, SUN Rui. A shear-wave velocity discrimination formula for liquefaction applicable to Xinjiang region[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2013, 35(zk2): 383-388.
[4]	QIU Yu-liang, DING Zhou-xiang. Analytical solution to Terzaghi’s consolidation model considering local source/sink term[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2012, 34(7): 1299-1304.
[5]	FU Wen-guang, YANG Zhi-yin. Formulae for overall stability of composite soil nailing walls[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2012, 34(4): 742-747.
[6]	TENG Kai. Evaluation and improvement of formulas for replacement depth under dynamic compaction[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2008, 30(7): 994-998.
[7]	WEI Xinjiang, ZHANG Shimin, WEI Wei. Discussion of formula of pullout resistance for fully grouted anchor[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2006, 28(7): 902-905.
[8]	M.S.Subrahmanyam, AO Pengkong. Pile length influences on piling formula[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2003, 25(3): 264-267.
[9]	WANG Jianping, LI Jinglin, CAO Guoxing, JIN Weiguang. An empirical formula for bearing capacity of vibro replacement stone column[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2002, 24(4): 496-498.
[10]	Xiong Qidong, Gao Dazhao. Reliability analysis of bearing capacity of foundation determined by Hansen formula[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 1998, 20(2): 79-81.