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A novel binary-medium breakage model for loess in an acidic aqueous environment

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Abstract

The basic concepts of the breakage mechanics of rocks and soils are briefly introduced in this article. The underlying mechanism for the breakage evolution of loess in a natural acidic environment is detailed, and a method is presented for calculating the rate of reaction between the calcium carbonate (CaCO3, an insoluble salt) in loess and acid. A breakage variable that accounts for the effects of chemical factors is derived from energy equations and macroscopic and microscopic energy balance principles. The existing binary-medium model for loess is improved, considering the breakage mechanism for loess in an acidic environment and the rate at which calcareous bonds react with acid. In the improved model, loess is treated as a combination of structural bodies and weak zones that withstand changes in external stresses (hydrological, mechanical, and acidic). Simple mathematical expressions are used to represent the breakage patterns and characteristics of the structural bodies and weak zones in loess in an acidic environment. Each parameter in the model has a clear physical meaning and can be determined through laboratory testing. The model was validated by comparing the calculated results against the results of collapsibility and consolidated-drained triaxial tests on a loess sample in an acidic environment. The results show that the model can accurately simulate the deformation characteristics of loess in an acidic environment and serve as a reference for engineering construction on loess foundations under the influence of acidic wastewater and acid rain.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for constructive comments.

Funding

This study was supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2020M673617XB), the Open Research Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering in the Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. Z020019), the Special Foundation for High-level Talents of Xijing University (Grant No. XJ20B12), the Open Foundation of the Key Laboratory of Failure Mechanism and Safety Control Techniques of Earth-rock Dams of the Ministry of Water Resources (Grant No. YK321014), the Special plan project of Shaanxi Provincial Education Department serving local governments (Grant No. 22JE018), and the Science and Technology Personnel Service Enterprise Project of Xi’an Science and Technology Bureau (Grant No. 22GXFW0148).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Safety and Durability of Concrete Structures, Xijing University, Xi’an, 710123, Shaanxi, China

    Yao Zhang, Chenghao Chen, Shuaifeng Gao, Shaoqiang Guo & Shasha Yang

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

    Yao Zhang

  3. School of Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an, 710048, Shaanxi, China

    Yao Zhang

  4. Institute of Water Resources and Hydro-Electric Engineering, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an, 710048, China

    Ning Li & Zaiqiang Hu

Authors
  1. Yao Zhang
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  2. Chenghao Chen
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  3. Shuaifeng Gao
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Correspondence to Yao Zhang.

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Zhang, Y., Chen, C., Gao, S. et al. A novel binary-medium breakage model for loess in an acidic aqueous environment. Bull Eng Geol Environ 82, 210 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-023-03227-y

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