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Drying-wetting impacts on granite residual soil: a multi-scale study from macroscopic to microscopic investigations

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Abstract

Granite residual soil (GRS) is sensitive to variations in humidity and regularly experiences wetting–drying (D-W) cycles in naturally seasonal climates. It is therefore necessary to explore the effects of D-W cycles on the basic properties of GRS for both engineering safety and scientific research. Triaxial shear tests, computed tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and scanning electron microscopy were performed to study the mechanical behavior and structural damage of GRS samples from 0 to 8 D-W cycles. The failure stress, cohesion, and internal friction angle of the GRS samples decreased to different extents with an increase in the number of D-W cycles. The cohesion and internal friction angle of the GRS decreased from 55.95 to 26.93 kPa and 23.28° to 22.65° after eight D-W cycles. Based on computed tomography, the development of mesoscopic cracks can be divided into a crack-generating stage (0–1 D-W cycles), a crack-propagating stage (2–5 D-W cycles), and a crack-stable stage (> 5 D-W cycles). Pore volume distribution curves showed that the pores could be classified into three types (micropores, mesopores, and macropores). The proportion of micropores and mesopores decreased with an increase in the number of D-W cycles, whereas the proportions of macropores and fractures increased. The microstructure in clay particles gradually disintegrated and the pores increased in size and formed connected fractures. The deterioration in the macroscopic mechanical properties of the GRS is the external manifestation of irreversible damage to its microscopic and mesoscopic structure due to the effects of D-W cycles.

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Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate the constructive suggestions from editors and reviewers.

Funding

This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12102312 and 41372314), the opening fund of the State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (Grant No. SKLGME021018), and the opening fund of State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection Open Foundation (Grant No. SKLGP2021K011).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430071, China

    Ran An, Xianwei Zhang, Lingwei Kong & Xinyu Liu

  2. College of Urban Construction, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China

    Ran An & Chang Chen

Authors
  1. Ran An
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  2. Xianwei Zhang
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  3. Lingwei Kong
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  4. Xinyu Liu
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  5. Chang Chen
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Contributions

Writing-original draft preparation: Ran An, Xianwei Zhang. Revising and editing: Ran An, Lingwei Kong. Data collection and analysis: Ran An, Xinyu Liu, Chang Chen. Methodology: Ran An, Xianwei Zhang, Chang Chen.

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Correspondence to Ran An.

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An, R., Zhang, X., Kong, L. et al. Drying-wetting impacts on granite residual soil: a multi-scale study from macroscopic to microscopic investigations. Bull Eng Geol Environ 81, 447 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-02950-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-02950-2

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