Advanced search

Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions ›› 2021, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (5): 450-462.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1226.2021.21023.

Previous Articles    

Study on mechanical properties of soil-rock mixture of various compactness subjected to freeze-thaw cycles

Zhong Zhou(),HaoHui Ding,WenYuan Gao,LinRong Xu   

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410075, China
  • Received:2021-04-19 Accepted:2021-10-11 Online:2021-10-31 Published:2021-12-03
  • Contact: Zhong Zhou E-mail:369144091@qq.com

RichHTML

24

PDF (PC)

173

Abstract:

The soil-rock mixture, a collection of soil particles and rock blocks, is inherently heterogeneous and anisotropic due to significant particle size and material strength differences. This study conducts triaxial tests on soil-rock mixture samples of various compactness subjected to varying freeze-thaw cycles. A mesoscopic simulation is carried out by particle flow code (PFC) to analyze the effects of freeze-thaw cycles on the mechanical properties of soil and rock particles. The results show that the mechanical properties of the soil-rock mixture under freeze-thaw cycles are greatly affected by the initial compaction. In general, when the degree of compaction is higher, the influence of freeze-thaw cycles on the soil-rock mixture is greater. The stress-strain curves of the samples with different compactness demonstrate strain-softening behavior. The freeze-thaw cycles greatly influence the failure strength of the samples with a higher degree of compaction but have little impact on the samples with a lower degree of compaction. On the microscopic level, during freeze-thaw cycles, the pore volume in the highly compacted sample is too small to accommodate the volume expansion from ice crystal formation, causing significant strength loss among the soil and rock particles and deterioration of the macroscopic properties of the soil-rock mixture.

Key words: soil-rock mixtures, freeze-thaw cycle, degree of compaction, particle flow code

Figure 1

Particle size distribution of the soil rock mixture with 45% stone blocks"

Figure 2

Sample preparation"

Table 1

Relationship between dry density and moisture content of the soil-rock mixture by the compaction test"

Moisture contentDry density (g/cm3)
0.97%2.186
2.96%2.212
4.14%2.293
5.24%2.341
6.21%2.354
7.17%2.345
9.02%2.309

Figure 3

Large-scale triaxial apparatus and test sample"

Table 2

Key technical specifications of the TAJ-2000 triaxial apparatus"

Sample size

(mm)

Max axial load

(kN)

Max confining pressure (MPa)

Axial deformation

velocity (mm/min)

Max axial

displacement (mm)

Volume change measure range (mL)
Φ 300×6002,0005.00.01-10030010,000

Table 3

Summary of sample groups and testing parameters"

Sample groupNumber of freeze-thaw cyclesDegree of compactionConfining pressure
03610
1#1-11-21-31-487%50 kPa, 100 kPa, 200 kPa
2#2-12-22-32-490%
3#3-13-23-33-495%

Figure 4

Stress-axial strain curves from triaxial compression tests of samples with various compactness with or without freeze-thaw cycling"

Figure 5

Static strength of samples subjected to freeze-thaw cycles"

Table 4

Loss of static strength due to freeze-thaw cycles"

Relative compaction

Confining pressure

(kPa)

Static strength before freeze-thaw cycles

(kPa)

Static strength after ten

freeze-thaw cycles

(kPa)

Static strength loss ratio
87%5086.9978.719.51%
100115.50108.675.91%
200184.20175.791.85%
90%50108.6793.8113.67%
100145.71123.7815.05%
200224.40200.7710.53%
95%50220.99169.1023.48%
100304.56250.9617.60%
200518.97401.7722.58%

Figure 6

Modulus of elasticity of samples subjected to freeze-thaw cycles"

Figure 7

Variation in the cohesion with the number of freeze-thaw cycles"

Table 5

Cohesion of samples with different compactness"

Degree of compactionFreeze-thaw cyclesCohesion (kPa)Cohesion loss ratio
87%024.860.00%
320.2318.62%
618.3126.35%
1017.9527.80%
90%030.170.00%
325.8714.25%
625.0916.84%
1024.1819.85%
95%041.130.00%
336.9510.16%
635.4913.71%
1034.4316.29%

Figure 8

Variation in internal friction angle with the number of freeze-thaw cycles"

Table 6

Variation in internal friction angles of samples with different compactness and freeze-thaw cycles"

Degree of compactionFreeze-thaw cyclesInternal friction angle (kPa)Internal friction angle loss ratio
87%018.820.00%
315.9815.09%
614.5522.69%
1015.7316.42%
90%027.390.00%
321.6820.85%
618.4332.71%
1017.5935.78%
95%035.750.00%
328.9319.08%
625.4528.81%
1022.9135.92%

Table 7

Parameters for particle flow simulation"

Particle parametersWall parameters

Normal contact stiffness

(kn/Pa)

Tangential contact stiffness

(ks/Pa)

Frictional coefficientDamping coefficient

Normal

stiffness of loading wall

(kn/Pa)

Tangential

stiffness of loading wall

(ks/Pa)

Normal stiffness of side wall (kn/Pa)

Tangential

stiffness of

side wall （ks/Pa）

Frictional coefficient
5?× 1061?× 1060.50.71?× 1071?× 1061?× 1061?× 1060.5

Table 8

Relationship between the bond strength and number of freeze-thaw cycles in PFC"

Rock block content

Degree of

compaction

Freeze-thaw cycles

Normal bond strength

(TF/Pa)

Tangential bond strength

(SF/Pa)

Bond strength decay ratioAverage bond strength decay ratio
45%87%02242240.00%0.00%
90%2212210.00%
95%2302300.00%
87%318718716.52%15.24%
90%19219213.12%
95%19319316.09%
87%616216227.68%25.95%
90%16216226.70%
95%17617623.48%
87%1015315331.70%31.57%
90%14914932.58%
95%16016030.43%

Figure 9

Particle flow models with different compactness"

Figure 10

Comparison of simulated and experimental stress-strain relationship for samples subjected to ten freeze-thaw cycles at confining pressure of 50 kPa"

Figure 11

Fracture distribution of samples with different compactness"

Chen YD, Yu Y, Yu YX, 2013. Method for determining mesoscopic parameters of sand in three-dimensional particle flow code numerical modeling. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 35(S2): 88-93. (in Chinese)
Dong XH, Zhang AJ, Lian JB, et al., 2010. Laboratory study on shear strength deterioration of loess long-term freezing-thawing cycles. Journal of Engineering Geology, 18(6): 887-893. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-9665.2010.06.012.(in Chinese)
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-9665.2010.06.012.
Gao F, Xiong X, Xu CS, et al., 2021. Mechanical property deterioration characteristics and a new constitutive model for rocks subjected to freeze-thaw weathering process. International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Ming Sciences, 140: 104642. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2021.104642.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2021.104642
Guo WL, Zhu JG, Xu JC, et al., 2016. A method to determine the porosity and friction coefficient of coarse-grained soil in the model of PFC3D. Chinese Journal of Underground Space and Engineering, 12(S1): 157-162. (in Chinese)
Hu TF, Liu JK, Fang JH, et al., 2017. Experimental study on the effect of cyclic freezing-thawing on mechanical properties of silty clay with different degrees of compaction. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 36(6): 1495-1503. DOI: 10.13722/j.cnki.jrme.2016.1051.(in Chinese)
doi: 10.13722/j.cnki.jrme.2016.1051.
Han Y, Wang Q, Wang N, et al., 2018. Effect of freeze-thaw cycles on shear strength of saline soil. Cold Region Science and Technology, 154: 42-53. DOI: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2018.06.002.
doi: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2018.06.002
Kong QZ, Wang RL, Song GB, et al., 2014. Monitoring the soil freeze-thaw process using Piezoceramic-based smart aggregate. Journal of Cold Regions Engineering, 28(2): 06014001. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)CR.1943-5495.0000066.
doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)CR.1943-5495.0000066
Li Z, Liu SH, Wang LJ, et al., 2013. Experimental study on the mechanical properties of clayey soil under different freezing apparatus temperatures and freeze-thaw cycles. Scientia Iranica, Transactions A: Civil Engineering, 20(4): 1145-1152.
Li Z, Liu LL, Yan SH, et al., 2019. Effect of freeze-thaw cycles on mechanical and porosity properties of recycled construction waste mixtures. Construction and Building Materials, 210: 347-363. DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.03.184.
doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.03.184
Ma T, Tang T, Huang XM, et al., 2016. Numerical analysis on thermal regime of wide embankment in permafrost regions of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Journal of Central South University, 23(12): 3346-3355. DOI: 10.1007/s11771-016-3400-x.
doi: 10.1007/s11771-016-3400-x
Masrur M, Cetin B, Cetin KS, 2019. Freeze-thaw performance of phase change material (PCM) incorporated pavement subgrade soil. Construction and Building Materials, 202: 449-464. DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.12.210.
doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.12.210
Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China, 2020. Test Methods of Soils for Highway Engineering: JTG 3430-2020. Beijing: Standards Press of China. (in Chinese)
Qi JL, Ma W, Song CX, 2008. Influence of freeze-thaw on engineering properties of a salty soil. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 53: 397-404. DOI: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.05.010.
doi: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.05.010
Shoop S, Affleck R, Haehnel R, et al., 2008. Mechanical behavior modeling of thaw-weakened soil. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 52: 191-206. DOI: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.04.023.
doi: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.04.023
Sun SR, Zhu F, Wei JH, et al., 2019. Experimental study on shear failure mechanism and the identification of strength characteristics of the soil-rock mixture. Shock and Vibration, 7450509. DOI: 10.1155/2019/7450509.
doi: 10.1155/2019/7450509
Viklander P, 1998. Permeability and volume changes in till due to cyclic freeze-thaw. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 35(3): 471-477. DOI: 10.1139/t98-015.
doi: 10.1139/t98-015
Wang DY, Ma W, Chang XX, et al., 2005. Physical-mechanical properties changes of Qinghai-Tibet clay due to cyclic freezing and thawing. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 24(23): 4313-4319. DOI: 10.3321/j.issn:1000-6915.2005.23.018. (in Chinese)
doi: 10.3321/j.issn:1000-6915.2005.23.018.
Wang DY, Ma W, Niu YH, et al., 2007. Effects of cyclic freezing and thawing on mechanical properties of Qinghai-Tibet clay. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 48(1): 34-43. DOI: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2006.09.008.
doi: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2006.09.008
Wang TL, Liu JK, Tian YH, 2011. Static properties of cement and lime-modified soil subjected to freeze-thaw cycles. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 32(1): 193-198. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-7598.2011.01.031. (in Chinese)
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-7598.2011.01.031.
Wang TL, 2011. Study on dynamic and static properties of cement- and lime- modified fillings subjected to freezing and thawing. Beijing: Beijing Jiaotong University. (in Chinese)
Wei HZ, Xu WJ, Wei CF, et al., 2018. Influence of water content and shear rate on the mechanical behavior of soil-rock mixtures. Science china-technological sciences, 61(8): 1127-1136. DOI: 10.1007/s11431-017-9277-5.
doi: 10.1007/s11431-017-9277-5
Wang HL, Sha C, Xu WY, et al., 2019. Particle flow analysis of soil-rock mixture considering porosity and heterogeneity. Journal of Hohai University (Natural Sciences), 47(3): 251-258. DOI: 10.3876/j.issn.1000-1980.2019.03.010.(in Chinese)
doi: 10.3876/j.issn.1000-1980.2019.03.010.
Xing K, Zhou Z, Yang H, et al., 2018. Macro-meso freeze-thaw damage mechanism of soil-rock mixtures with different rock contents. International Journal of Pavement Engineering, 21(1): 9-19. DOI: 10.1080/10298436.2018.1435879.
doi: 10.1080/10298436.2018.1435879
Xing HF, Liu LL, Luo Y, 2019. Water-induced changes in mechanical parameters of soil-rock mixture and their effect on talus slope stability. Geomechanics and engineering, 18(4): 353-362. DOI: 10.12989/gae.2019.18.4.353.
doi: 10.12989/gae.2019.18.4.353
Yan H, Liu JK, Wang TL, 2013. Experimental research of influences of freeze-thaw on the mechanical properties of silty soil. Journal of Beijing Jiaotong University, 37(4): 73-77. DOI: 10.11860/j.issn.1673-0291.2013.04.014. (in Chinese)
doi: 10.11860/j.issn.1673-0291.2013.04.014.
Zheng X, Ma W, Bing H, 2015. Impact of freezing-thawing cycles on structure of soils and its mechanism analysis by laboratory testing. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 36(5): 1282-1294. DOI: 10.16285/j.rsm.2015.05.006. (in Chinese)
doi: 10.16285/j.rsm.2015.05.006.
Zhou Z, Yang H, Wang XC, et al., 2016. Computational model for electrical resistivity of soil-rock mixtures. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 28(8): 06016009. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001559.
doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001559
Zhou Z, Yang H, Wang XC, et al., 2017. Model development and experimental verification for permeability coefficient of soil-rock mixture. International Journal of Geomechanics, 17(4): 04016106. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GM. 1943-5622.0000768.
doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)GM. 1943-5622.0000768
Zhou Z, Xing K, Yang H, et al., 2019. Damage mechanism of soil-rock mixture after freeze-thaw cycles. Journal of Central South University, 26(1):13-24. DOI: 10.1007/s11771-019-3979-9.
doi: 10.1007/s11771-019-3979-9
[1] YanJun Shen,Huan Zhang,JinYuan Zhang,HongWei Yang,Xu Wang,Jia Pan. Sandstone-concrete interface transition zone (ITZ) damage and debonding micromechanisms under freeze-thaw [J]. Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions, 2021, 13(2): 133-149.
[2] Tao Wen,Sai Ying,FengXi Zhou. Calculation of salt-frost heave of sulfate saline soil due to long-term freeze-thaw cycles [J]. Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions, 2020, 12(5): 284-294.
[3] ShengYun Chen, Qian Zhao, WenJie Liu, Zhao Zhang, Shuo Li, HongLin Li, ZhongNan Nie, LingXi Zhou, ShiChang Kang. Effects of freeze-thaw cycles on soil N2O concentration and flux in the permafrost regions of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau [J]. Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions, 2018, 10(1): 69-79.
[4] Tuncer B. Edil, Bora Cetin, Ali Soleimanbeigi. Laboratory and field performance of recycled aggregate base in a seasonally cold region [J]. Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions, 2017, 9(3): 183-191.
[5] HongHuan Cui, YuTao Ma, JianKun Liu, ZhiYang Wang. Experimental study of the dynamic behavior of high-grade highway-subgrade soil in a seasonally frozen area [J]. Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions, 2017, 9(3): 289-296.
[6] QiuBo Yan, Feng Zhang, KangWei Tang, ShuJuan Wang, Yan Liu. Experimental investigation on static and dynamic resilient moduli of compacted fine soil [J]. Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions, 2017, 9(3): 297-306.
[7] ShengBo Xie, JianJun Qu, Tao Wang. Wind tunnel simulation of the effects of freeze-thaw cycles on soil erosion in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau [J]. Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions, 2016, 8(3): 187-195.
[8] QianMi Yu, JianKun Liu, JingYu Liu, DingJun Lv, TengFei Wang. Experimental study of the effects of non-uniformly distributed fine soil on mechanical properties of Shenyang-Dandong Railway coarse-grained soil [J]. Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions, 2015, 7(5): 503-512.
[9] ZhenYa Liu, JingYu Liu, QingZhi Wang, JianKun Liu. Compressive strength and frost heave resistance of different types of semi-rigid base materials after freeze-thaw cycles [J]. Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions, 2015, 7(4): 365-369.
[10] ChengYi Yu, Shuang Tian, Liang Tang, XianZhang Ling, GuoQing Zhou. Finite element analysis on deformation of highembankment in heavy-haul railway subjected to freeze-thaw cycles [J]. Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions, 2015, 7(4): 421-429.
[11] Ze Zhang, Vadim V. Pendin, WenJie Feng, ZhongQiong Zhang. The influence of freeze-thaw cycles on the granulometric composition of Moscow morainic clay [J]. Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions, 2015, 7(3): 199-205.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited
  Shared   
  Discussed   
No Suggested Reading articles found!