Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions ›› 2020, Vol. 12 ›› Issue (5): 284-294.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1226.2020.00284.

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Calculation of salt-frost heave of sulfate saline soil due to long-term freeze-thaw cycles

Tao Wen1,2,Sai Ying1,3(),FengXi Zhou3   

  1. 1.Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Building Health Monitoring and Disaster Prevention in Full-Life-Cycle, Yangtze Normal University, Chongqing, 408100, China
    2.Gansu Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
    3.School of Civil Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, China
  • Received:2020-03-10 Accepted:2020-07-06 Online:2020-10-31 Published:2020-10-29
  • Contact: Sai Ying E-mail:yingsai35910@163.com

Abstract:

Based on salt-frost heave tests of sulfate saline soil under repeated freeze-thaw cycles, this paper discusses the mechanism of the salt-frost heave under long-term freeze-thaw cycles. The results show that the salt-frost heave can be restricted considerably by loads, and there is a critical load for the salt-frost heave cumulative effect. Under this load, peak values of salt-frost heave approach a constant, and the residual values become 0. There is no longer structure heave or cumulative effect of saline soil exposed to freeze-thaw cycles under the critical load. Taking cumulative effect into account in calculations of salt-frost heave, a salt-frost heave model under freeze-thaw cycles is developed.

Key words: sulfate saline soil, freeze-thaw cycles, load, salt-frost heave

Table 1

Physical properties of soil"

Water contentRelative density (g/cm3)Liquid limit, WLPlastic limit, WpPlasticity index, IpCoefficient of uniformity, Cu=d60/d10
9.3%2.6926.8%17.6%96.87

Table 2

Contents of soluble salts in soil"

Anion content (mg/kg)Cationic content (mg/kg)Soluble salt content (mg/kg)
CO32-HCO3-SO42-Cl-Ca2+Mg2+K++Na+
162323373610826111761

Figure 1

Structural diagram of multifunctional salt-frost heave apparatus (1. Nut for leveling of lever; 2. Lever for load; 3. Weight; 4. Dowel steel; 5. LVDT; 6. Loaded plate; 7. Refrigerating fluid outlet of temperature-control box; 8. Thermal insulation layer; 9. Refrigerating fluid; 10. Sample; 11. Refrigerating fluid inlet of temperature-control box; 12. Temperature sensor; 13. Temperature sensor cable; 14. Temperature acquisition device; 15. Refrigerating fluid outlet of low temperature bath; 16. Refrigerating fluid inlet of low temperature bath; 17. Low temperature bath)"

Figure 2

The sketch map for the sampling device (1. Long handle; 2. Cutting ring; 3. Removable cutting ring)"

Figure 3

The salt-frost heaves in freezing-thawing cycles"

Figure 4

Relationships between frost-heaves and times of freeze-thaw cycles"

Figure 5

Variation curve of dry density with times of freeze-thaw cycles"

Figure 6

The schematic diagram of the formation of macropore structure"

Figure 7

Picture of sample in different depths after 8 freeze-thaw cycles"

Figure 8

Relationships between peak (residual) values of salt-frost heave and the number of freeze-thaw cycles under different loads"

Table 3

Parameters of Equation (2)"

ItemLoad (kPa)Parameters
a1a2R2
Peak deformation153.2294.2390.993
301.5642.9480.999
600.3702.1460.994
90-0.7431.7800.983
Residual deformation153.2162.1500.983
301.7101.2270.992
600.5930.2860.982
90-0.7190.0890.989

Figure 9

Relationships between peak (residual) values of salt-frost heave and loads under different times of freeze-thaw cycles"

Table 4

Parameters in Equation (3)"

Times of cyclesParameters
b1b2b3R2
Peak deformation16.579-6.27626.1510.995
312.215-15.28732.6200.998
517.998-21.59922.6710.999
827.992-31.02712.6650.995
Residual deformation14.164-6.33841.0800.999
310.452-14.59028.7610.999
515.174-20.50624.8330.998

Figure 10

Soil structural features of top surface of test sample under different loads exposed to eight freeze-thaw cycles. (a) The sample under load of 0 kPa; (b) The sample under load of 15 kPa; (c) The sample under load of 30 kPa; (d) The sample under load of 60 kPa; (e) The sample under load of 90 kPa"

Figure 11

Schematic diagram of discriminant of cumulative effect of salt-frost heave deformation of foundation soil"

Figure 12

Comparison between calculated and test values of peak deformation"

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