Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of compaction condition on the UCS and structure of compacted loess

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The engineering importance of compacted loess is now much greater than that of intact loess because of the occurrence of a large number of loess fill slopes and foundations in the last few years. Molding water content (MWC) and degree of compaction (DOC) (or dry density) are two key factors that determine the structure of compacted soil. However, it is not clear how MWC affects the mechanical behavior of compacted loess. In this study, compacted loess specimens were prepared under various compaction conditions to have different MWCs (i.e., 14, 16, 18 and 22%) or DOCs (i.e., 85, 90 and 94%). Unconfined compression tests were performed on these specimens and their counterparts, the effects of MWC and DOC on the mechanical behavior of compacted loess under unconfined condition were interpreted with the assistance of the measured pore-size distribution curves (PSDs), soil–water retention curves (SWRCs) and computed structural parameters. The results show that both MWC and DOC significantly affect the strength-deformation characteristics of compacted loess. When DOC and initial water content are given, the larger the MWC, the larger the unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and the greater the ductility of specimen because of the more uniform distribution of pores and higher suction. At a given MWC, the greater the DOC, the larger the UCS, and the greater the initial stiffness of specimen because of the closer particle arrangement. The initial structural parameter reduces with DOC and increases with MWC, indicating that the soil strength is more susceptible to disturbance from loading or soaking when DOC is smaller or MWC is larger. Consequently, this leads to a higher structure potential for compacted loess. The relationship between the initial structural parameter and UCS is not unique, indicating that the structural difference caused by different particle arrangements may still exist upon soaking, while the UCS of compacted loess grows with the initial structural parameter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, PL, upon reasonable request.

References

  • ASTM (2013) Annual book of ASTM standards. ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen H, Liu MZ, Song ZP (2010) Structural parameters of remolded and undisturbed saturated loess. Chin J Undergr Space Eng 6(03):487–491 (+497. (in Chinese))

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen CL, Jiang X, Su TZ, Jin J, Li WW (2014) The influence of structure on unconfined compression characteristics of compacted loess. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 33(12):2539–2545 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen HE, Jiang YL, Gao Y, Yuan XQ (2019) Structural characteristics and its influencing factors of typical loess. Bull Eng Geol Environ 78(7):4893–4905

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choobbasti AJ, Kutanaei SS (2017) Microstructure characteristics of cement-stabilized sandy soil using nanosilica. J Rock Mech Geotech 9:981–988

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choobbasti AJ, Kutanaei SS, Ghadakpour M (2019) Shear behavior of fiber-reinforced sand composite. Arab J Geosci 12:157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dong S, Wang H, Li J, Ma F, Bai X (2020) Effects of moisture content and compaction degree on mechanical properties of compacted loess-like silt. J Guangxi Univ (natural Science Edition) 05:978–985 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dueck A, Börgesson L (2015) Thermo-mechanically induced brittleness in compacted bentonite investigated by unconfined compression tests. Eng Geol 193:305–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fredlund DG, Morgenstern NR, Widger RA (1978) The shear strength of unsaturated soils. Can Geotech J 15(3):313–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghadakpour M, Asskar JC, Saman SK (2020) Experimental study of impact of cement treatment on the shear behavior of loess and clay. Arab J Geosci 13:184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hao YZ, Wang TH, Wang JJ (2019) Structural properties of unsaturated compacted loess for various sample moisture contents. Arab J Geosci 12(8):1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hou XK, Qi SW, Li TL, Guo SF, Wang Y, Li Y, Zhang LX (2020) Microstructure and soil-water retention behavior of compacted and intact silt loess. Eng Geol 277:105814

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hou YF, Li P, Wang JD (2021) Review of chemical stabilizing agents for improving the physical and mechanical properties of loess. B Eng Geol Environ 80:9201–9215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu Y, Sun SR, Li K (2023) Study on influence of moisture content on strength and brittle-plastic failure characteristics of xiashu loess. Adv Civ Eng. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/5919325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Juang CH, Dijkstra T, Wasowski J, Meng XM (2019) Loess geohazards research in China: advances and challenges for mega engineering projects. Eng Geol 251(9):1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kie TT (1988) Fundamental properties of loess from Northwestern China. Eng Geol 25(2–4):103–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Koutenaei RY, Choobbasti AJ, Kutanaei SS (2021) Triaxial behaviour of a cemented sand reinforced with Kenaf fibres. Eur J Environ Civ En 25(7):1268–1286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kutanaei SS, Afrakoti MTP, Choobbasti AJ (2021) Effect of coal waste on grain failure of cement-stabilized sand due to compaction. Arab J Geosci 14:1105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Vanapalli SK, Li TL (2016) Review of collapse triggering mechanism of collapsible soils due to wetting. J Rock Mech Geotech 8(2):256–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Xie WL, Pak RYS, Vanapalli SK (2019) Microstructural evolution of loess soils from the Loess Plateau of China. Catena 173:276–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Pan ZH, Xiao T, Wang JD (2023) Effects of molding water content and compaction degree on the microstructure and permeability of compacted loess. Acta Geotech 18(2):921–936

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meng J, Li XA (2019) Effects of carbonate on the structure and properties of loess and the corresponding mechanism: an experimental study of the Malan loess, Xi’an area, China. Bull Eng Geol Environ 78(7):4965–4976

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell JK, Soga K (2005) Fundamentals of soil behavior. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken

    Google Scholar 

  • Ng CWW, Sadeghi H, Hossen SB, Chiu CF, Alonso EE, Baghbanrezvan S (2016) Water retention and volumetric characteristics of intact and re-compacted loess. Can Geotech J 53(8):1258–1269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ng CWW, Leung A, Ni JJ (2019) Plant-soil slope interactions. CRC Press Taylor & Francis

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Peng JB, Wang SK, Wang QY, Zhuang JZ, Huang WL, Zhu XH, Leng YQ, Ma PH (2019) Distribution and genetic types of loess landslides in China. J Asian Earth Sci 170:329–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers CDF, Dijkstra TA, Smalley IJ (1994) Hydroconsolidation and subsidence of loess: studies from China, Russia, North America and Europe: in memory of Jan Sajgalik. Eng Geol 37(2):83–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roshan K, Janalizadeh CA, Soleimani KS (2020) Evaluation of the impact of fiber reinforcement on the durability of lignosulfonate stabilized clayey sand under wet-dry condition. Transp Geotech 23:100359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadeghi H, Kiani M, Sadeghi M, Jafarzadeh F (2019) Geotechnical characterization and collapsibility of a natural dispersive loess. Eng Geol 250(21):89–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shao SJ, Zhou FF, Long JY (2004) Structural properties of loess and its quantitative parameter. Chin J Geotech Eng 26:532–536 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shao XX, Zhang HY, Tan Y (2018) Collapse behavior and microstructural alteration of remolded loess under graded wetting tests. Eng Geol 233:11–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JD, Li P, Ma Y, Vanapalli SK (2019) Evolution of pore-size distribution of intact loess and remolded loess due to consolidation. J Soil Sediment 19(3):1226–1238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang LQ, Wang ZQ, Xing F, Li KY, Li S, Hu XY (2021a) Strength and structure of Q3 paleosol. Chin J Geotech Eng 43:209–213 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Li T, Zhao C, Hou X, Li P, Zhang Y (2021b) A study on the effect of pore and particle distributions on the soil water characteristic curve of compacted loess soil. Environ Earth Sci 80(22):1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen BP, Yan YJ (2014) Influence of structure on shear characteristics of the unsaturated loess in Lanzhou, China. Eng Geol 168:46–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Z, Xu J, Chen H, Shao L, Zhou X, Wang S (2022) Shear strength and mesoscopic characteristics of basalt fiber–reinforced loess after dry–wet cycles. J Mater Civ Eng 34(6):04022083

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao Y, Stuedlein AW, Ran JY, Evans MT, Cheng L, Liu HL, van Paassen LA, Chu J (2019) Effect of particle shape on strength and stiffness of biocemented glass beads. J Geotech Geoenviron 145:06019016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao T, Li P, Pan ZH, Hou YF, Wang JD (2022) Relationship between water retention capacity and pore-size distribution of compacted loess. J Soil Sediment 22(12):3151–3165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie DY, Qi JL (1999) Soil structure characteristics and new approach in research on its quantitative parameter. Chin J Geotech Eng 21:651–656 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu PP, Zhang QY, Qian H, Li MG, Yang FX (2021) An investigation into the relationship between saturated permeability and microstructure of remolded loess: a case study from Chinese Loess Plateau. Geoderma 382:114774

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yates K, Fenton CH, Bell DH (2018) A review of the geotechnical characteristics of loess and loess-derived soils from Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand. Eng Geol 236:11–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ZF, Ni WK, Wang XJ, Yuan KZ, Pan DL, Liu K (2019) Experimental study on water infiltration law and permeability of compacted loess. Hydrogeol Eng Geol 06:97–104 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42007251, 42027806), the China Postdoctoral Research Foundation (2019M653883XB).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, China

    Liang Sun, Ping Li, Tao Xiao & Jiading Wang

  2. Water Cycle and Geological Environment Observation and Research Station for the Chinese Loess Plateau, Ministry of Education, Zhengning, 745399, Gansu, China

    Ping Li

Authors
  1. Liang Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ping Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tao Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jiading Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

The contribution of LS included processing the datas, drawing the figures, interpretation of the results and preparation of the manuscript. The contribution of PL included polishing the language and reviewing the manuscript. The contribution of TX included carrying out tests. The contribution of JW included providing funding.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ping Li.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sun, L., Li, P., Xiao, T. et al. Influence of compaction condition on the UCS and structure of compacted loess. Environ Earth Sci 82, 411 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-11105-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-11105-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation