Abstract
Freeze-thaw cycles are closely related to the slope instability in high-altitude mountain regions. In this study, cohesive coarse-grained soils were collected from a high-altitude slope in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to study the effect of cyclic freeze-thaw on their uniaxial mechanical properties. The soil specimens were remolded with three dry densities and three moisture contents. Then, after performing a series of freeze-thaw tests in a closed system without water supply, the soil specimens were subjected to a uniaxial compression test. The results showed that the stress-strain curves of the tested soils mainly performed as strain-softening. The softening feature intensified with the increasing dry density but weakened with an increase in freeze-thaw cycles and moisture content. The uniaxial compressive strength, resilient modulus, residual strength and softening modulus decreased considerably with the increase of freeze-thaw cycles. After more than nine freeze-thaw cycles, these four parameters tended to be stable. These parameters increased with the increase of dry density and decreased with the increasing moisture content, except for the residual strength which did not exhibit any clear variation with an increase in moisture content. The residual strength, however, generally increased with an increase in dry density. The soil structural damage caused by frozen water expansion during the freeze-thaw is the major cause for the changes in mechanical behaviors of cohesive coarse-grained soils. With results in this study, the deterioration effect of freeze-thaw cycles on the mechanical properties of soils should be considered during the slope stability analysis in high-altitude mountain regions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson RS (2002) Modeling the tor-dotted crests, bedrock edges, and parabolic profiles of high alpine surfaces of the wind river range. Wyoming. Geomorphology 46(1): 35–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-555X(02)00053-3
Aoyama K, Ogawa S, Fukuda M (1985) Temperature dependencies of mechanical properties of soils subjected to freezing and thawing. In Proceedings of the 4th International symposium on Ground Freezing. Rotterdam, the Netherlands: A. A. Balkema. pp 217–222.
Ayers PD (1987) Moisture and density effects on soil shear strength parameters for coarse grained soils. Transactions of the ASAE 30(5): 1282–1287. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.30559
Bu JQ, Wang TL (2015) Influences of freeze-thaw and fines content on mechanical properties of coarse-grained soil. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 37(4): 608–614. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.11779/CJGE201504005
Chamberlain EJ, Gow AJ (1979) Effect of freezing and thawing on the permeability and structure of soils. Engineering Geology 13(1): 73–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7952(79)90022-X
Chuvilin YM, Yazynin OM (1988) Frozen soil macro- and microtexture formation. In Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Permafrost. Tapir Publishers, Trondheim, Norway 1: 320–328.
Eigenbrod KD (1996) Effects of cyclic freezing and thawing on volume changes and permeabilities of soft fine-gained soils. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 33(4): 529–537. https://doi.org/10.1139/t96-079-301
Elliott RP, Thornton SI (1988) Resilient modulus and AASHTO pavement design. Transportation Research Record 1196: 116–124.
Fahey BD (1973) An analysis of diurnal freeze-thaw and frost heave cycles in the Indian Peake region of the Colorado Front Range. Arctic and Alpine Research 5(3): 269–281. https://doi.org/10.1080/00040851.1973.12003706
Ghazavi M, Roustaie M (2010) The influence of freeze-thaw cycles on the unconfined compressive strength of fiber-reinforced clay. Cold Regions Science and Technology 61(2–3): 125–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2009.12.005
Hansson K, Lundin LC (2006) Equifinality and sensitivity in freezing and thawing simulations of laboratory and in situ data. Cold Regions Science and Technology 44(1): 20–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2005.06.004
Hotineanu A, Bouasker M, Aldaood A, et al. (2015) Effect of freeze-thaw cycling on the mechanical properties of lime-stabilized expansive clays. Cold Regions Science and Technology 119: 151–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2015.08.008
Ishikawa T, Tokoro T, Miura S (2016) Influence of freeze-thaw action on hydraulic behavior of unsaturated volcanic coarsegrained soils. Soils and Foundations 56(5): 790–804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2016.08.005
Kamei T, Ahmed A, Shibi T (2012) Effect of freeze-thaw cycles on durability and strength of very soft clay soil stabilised with recycled Bassanite. Cold Regions Science and Technology 82: 124–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2012.05.016
Kang SC, Xu YW, You QL, et al. (2010). Review of climate and cryospheric change in the Tibetan Plateau. Environmental Research Letters 5(1): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/5/1/015101
Konrad JM, Lemieux N (2005) Influence of fines on frost heave characteristics of a well-graded base-course material. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 42(2): 515–527. https://doi.org/10.1139/t04-115
Konrad JM (2008) Freezing-induced water migration in compacted base-course materials. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 45(7): 895–909. https://doi.org/10.1139/t08-024
Lacelle D, Brooker A, Fraser RH, et al. (2015) Distribution and growth of thaw slumps in the Richardson Mountains-Peel Plateau region, northwestern Canada. Geomorphology 235: 40–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.01.024
Lai YM, Xu XT, Yu WB, et al. (2014) An experimental investigation of the mechanical behavior and a hyperplastic constitutive model of frozen loess. International Journal of Engineering Science 84: 29–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijengsci.2014.06.011
Lai YM, Liao MK, Hu K (2016) A constitutive model of frozen saline sandy soil based on energy dissipation theory. International Journal of Plasticity 78: 84–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijplas.2015.10.008
Lee W, Bohra NC, Altschaeffl AG, et al. (1995) Resilient modulus of cohesive soils and the effect of freeze-thaw. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 32: 559–568. https://doi.org/10.1139/t95-059
Leroueil S, Tardif J, Roy M, et al. (1991) Effects of frost on the mechanical behaviour of Champlain Sea clays. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 28(5): 690–697. https://doi.org/10.1139/t91-083
Leshchinsky D (2001) Design Dilemma: Use peak or residual strength of soil. Geotextiles and Geomembranes 19(2): 111–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0266-1144(00)00007-8
Li AY, Niu FJ, Zheng H, et al. (2017) Experimental measurement and numerical simulation of frost heave in saturated coarsegrained soil. Cold Regions Science and Technology 137: 68–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2017.02.008
Li GY, Ma W, Mu YH, et al. (2017) Effects of freeze-thaw cycle on engineering properties of loess used as road fills in seasonally frozen ground regions, North China. Journal of Mountain Science 14(2): 356–368. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-016-4005-4
Li X, Jin R, Pan XD, et al. (2012) Changes in the near-surface soil freeze-thaw cycle on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 17: 33–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2011.12.002
Li Z, Xing YC (2006) Effects of dry density and percent fines on shearing strength of sandy cobble and broken stone. Rock and Soil Mechanics 27(12): 2255–2260. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1000-7598.2006.12.032
Liu EL, Liu MX, Chen SS, et al. (2015) Micromechanical modeling of grain breakage based on thermomechanics and micropolar theory. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 37(2): 276–283. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.11779/CJGE201502010
Liu JK, Chang D, Yu QM (2016) Influence of freeze-thaw cycles on mechanical properties of a silty sand. Engineering Geology 210: 23–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2016.05.019
Lu Y, Liu SH, Alonso E, et al. (2019) Volume changes and mechanical degradation of a compacted expansive soil under freeze-thaw cycles. Cold Regions Science and Technology 157: 206–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2018.10.008
Ma W, Wu ZW, Chang XX (2000) Effects of consolidation process on stress-strain characters of tjaeles. Rock and Soil Mechanics 21(3): 198–200. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.16285/j.rsm.2000.03.002
Ma W, Wu ZW, Zhang LX, et al. (1999) Analyses of process on the strength decrease in frozen soils under high confining pressures. Cold Regions Science and Technology 29(1): 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-232X(98)00020-2
Ma W, Cheng G, Wu Q (2009) Construction on permafrost foundations: Lessons learned from the Qinghai-Tibet railroad. Cold Regions Science and Technology 59(1): 3–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2009.07.007
McRoberts EC, Morgenstern NR (1974) The stability of thawing slopes. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 11: 447–469. https://doi.org/10.1139/t74-052
Ministry of Construction of the People’s Republic of China (MCPRC) (2008) Standard for soil test method, GB/T 50123-1999. China Planning Press, Beijing, China. (In Chinese)
Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China (MWRPRC) (1999) Specification of Soil Test, SL237-1999. China Water & Power Press, Beijing, China. (In Chinese)
Nakaoka T, Mochizuki A, Sakaguchi O (1994) Evaluation of density from compaction tests on coarse grained soils. Doboku Gakkai Ronbunshu 499: 177–185. https://doi.org/10.2208/jscej.1994.499_177
Niu FJ, Cheng GD, Lai YM, et al. (2004) Instability study on thaw slumping in permafrost regions of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 26(3): 402–406. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02911033
Niu FJ, Cheng GD, Ni WK, et al. (2005) Engineering-related slope failure in permafrost regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Cold Regions Science and Technology 42(3): 215–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2005.02.002
Nurmikolu A (2005) Degradation and frost susceptibility of crushed rock aggregates used in structural layers of railway track. Doctoral thesis. Tampere University of Technology. pp 34–44.
Othman MA, Benson CH (1993) Effect of freeze-thaw on the hydraulic conductivity and morphology of compacted clay. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 30(2): 236–246. https://doi.org/10.1139/t93-020
Özgan E, Serin S, Ertürk S, et al. (2015) Effects of Freezing and Thawing Cycles on the Engineering Properties of Soils. Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering 52(2): 95–99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11204-015-9312-1
Patakiewicz MA, Zabielska-Adamska K (2017) Crushing of non-cohesive soil grains under dynamic loading. Procedia Engineering 189: 80–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2017.05.014
Qi JL, Vermeer PA, Cheng GD (2006) A review of the influence of freeze-thaw cycles on soil geotechnical properties. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes 17: 245–252. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.559
Qi JL, Ma W, Song CX (2008) Influence of freeze-thaw on engineering properties of a silty soil. Cold Regions Science and Technology 53: 397–404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.05.010
Rahardjo H, Indrawan IGB, Leong EC, et al. (2008) Effects of coarse-grained material on hydraulic properties and shear strength of top soil. Engineering Geology 101(3): 165–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2008.05.001
Simonsen E, Janoo VC, Isacsson U (2002) Resilient properties of unbound road materials during seasonal frost conditions. Journal of Cold Regions Engineering 16(1): 28–50. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0887-381X(2002)16:1(28)
Skempton AW (1985) Residual strength of clays in landslides, folded strata and the laboratory. Géotechnique 35(1): 3–18. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1985.35.1.3
Sterpi D (2015) Effect of freeze-thaw cycles on the hydraulic conductivity of a compacted clayey silt and influence of the compaction energy. Soils and Foundations 55(5): 1326–1332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2015.09.030
Swan C, Greene C (1998) Freeze-thaw effects on Boston blue clay. Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, Soil Improvement for Big Digs ASCE 81: 161–176.
Tan YZ, Wu P, Fu W, et al. (2013) Strength and micromechanism of improved silt under freeze-thaw cycle effect. Rock and Soil Mechanics 34(10): 2827–2834 (In Chinese). https://doi.org/10.16285/j.rsm.2013.10.011
Tang YQ, Zhou J, Hong J, et al. (2012) Quantitative analysis of the microstructure of Shanghai muddy clay before and after freezing. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment 71: 309–316. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-011-0380-9
Tsytovich NA, Kronik YA (1979) Interrelationship of the principal physicomechanical and thermophysical properties of coarse-grained frozen soils. Engineering Geology 13: 163–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7952(79)90029-2
Viklander P (1998) Permeability and volume changes in till due to cyclic freeze/thaw. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 35: 471–477. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-35-3-471
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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2006.09.008
Wang QZ, Liu JK, Zhu XX, et al. (2016) The experiment study of frost heave characteristics and gray correlation analysis of graded crushed rock. Cold Regions Science and Technology 126: 44–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2016.03.003
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. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.A1000209
Wang TL, Yue ZR, Ma C, et al. (2014) An experimental study on the frost heave properties of coarse grained soils. Transportation Geotechnics 1: 137–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2014.06.007
Xie SB, Qu JJ, Lai YM, et al. (2015) Effects of Freeze-thaw Cycles on Soil Mechanical and Physical Properties in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Journal of Mountain Science 12(4): 999–1099. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-014-3384-7
Xu J, Niu FJ, Niu YH, et al. (2011) Analysis on the effect of replacing-soil method on inhibiting frost heave of railway roadbed in seasonal frozen soil region. China Railway Science 32(5): 1–7. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2011.553739
Yong RN, Boonsinsuk P, Yin CWP (1985) Alternation of soil behavior after cyclic freezing and thawing. In: Proceedings of 4th International Symposium on Ground Freezing. A.A. Balkema Publishers, Rotterdam, Netherlands 187–195.
Zaimoglu AS (2010) Freezing-thawing behavior of fine-grained soils reinforced with polypropylene fibers. Cold Regions Science and Technology 60(1): 63–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2009.07.001
Zhang D, Liu EL, Liu XY, et al. (2017) A new strength criterion for frozen soils considering the influence of temperature and coarsegrained contents. Cold Regions Science and Technology 143: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2017.08.006
Zhang F, Jing RX, Feng DC, et al. (2015) Mechanical properties and an empirical model of compacted silty clay subjected to freeze-thaw cycles. In: Innovative Materials and Design for Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure. Reston: American Society of Civil Engineers pp 200–212. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784479278.019
Zheng Y, Ma W, Bing H (2015) Impact of freezing and thawing cycles on structure of soils and its mechanism analysis by laboratory testing. Rock and Soil Mechanics 36(5): 1282–1287. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.16285/j.rsm.2015.05.006
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to express their gratitude to three anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions. This study was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2018YFC1505001), the Key Scientific Research Project of China Gold Group (Grant No. 2016ZGHJ/XZHTL-YQSC-26), the funding from the Department of Transportation of Gansu Province (Grant No. 2017–008), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, CHD (Grant No. 300102268716). The authors would like to thank Prof. ZHANG Shujuan and Mr. CHEN Tao for their kind help during the laboratory tests.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Qu, Yl., Chen, Gl., Niu, Fj. et al. Effect of freeze-thaw cycles on uniaxial mechanical properties of cohesive coarse-grained soils. J. Mt. Sci. 16, 2159–2170 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-019-5426-7
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-019-5426-7