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Study on pore pressure and fluidization evaluation method of unsaturated loess in vibration process

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Abstract

The large-scale fluidization failure of a loess slope induced by earthquake has been widely investigated domestically and abroad. Studies on the fluidization failure of loess slopes have mainly focused on the mechanism of loess subsidence and the liquefaction of saturated loess, while fewer studies have investigated the fluidization failure mechanism and evaluation of unsaturated loess with high water content. In this study, a series of dynamic triaxial cyclic shearing tests were carried out on unsaturated loess to elucidate the mechanism of failure resulting from the fluidization of unsaturated loess by considering the dynamic pore-water pressure, dynamic pore-gas pressure, and dynamic strain of unsaturated loess under the influence of different vibration frequency, matric suction, dynamic stress, and saturation. The results reveal the following: under undrained conditions, when subjected to continuous vibration loading, unsaturated loess can also generate extra-static pore-water pressure, which increases hysterically but quickly grows close to the initial confining pressure. At this time, samples with greater saturation are prone to fluidization failure and approach loess liquefaction. A theoretical model applicable to the fluidization of unsaturated loess is proposed according to the liquefied-evaluation method for saturated loess and the Boyle-Charles law for ideal gases. An evaluation method is also proposed. This study has important theoretical value, and practical significance for further understanding the formation mechanism of the fluidized failure of unsaturated loess slopes under vibration conditions, and for preventing and controlling slope geological disasters during earthquakes in loess regions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors particularly appreciate the valuable comments made by the editors and reviewers to make a substantial improvement to this manuscript. We thank Liwen Bianji, Edanz Editing China (www.liwenbianji.cn/ac), for editing the English text of a draft of this manuscript.

Funding

This project was partially supported by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China (grant no. 41702335), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFC1504702), and the Major Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 41790445).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China

    Xiaochao Zhang, Xiangjun Pei & Zidong Zhang

  2. College of Geosciences and Engineering, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 450046, China

    Lijuan Song

Authors
  1. Xiaochao Zhang
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  2. Xiangjun Pei
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  3. Zidong Zhang
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  4. Lijuan Song
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lijuan Song.

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Highlights

1. The fluidization failure of unsaturated loess with high water content was investigated.

2. The dynamic responses of unsaturated loess were investigated during fluidization failure.

3. A theoretical model applicable to the fluidization of unsaturated loess was investigated.

4. A theoretical fluidization evaluation method of unsaturated loess is proposed.

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Zhang, X., Pei, X., Zhang, Z. et al. Study on pore pressure and fluidization evaluation method of unsaturated loess in vibration process. Bull Eng Geol Environ 80, 5575–5587 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02216-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02216-3

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