Abstract
An important property of loess is a tendency to collapse on loading and wetting (hydroconsolidation) which can have serious consequences worldwide for civil engineering projects. This paper describes the use of Monte Carlo and other analytical techniques to predict the shape of naturally occurring loess particles. Randomly generated particles are classified according to Zingg shape categories: disc, sphere, blade and rod. By assuming a uniform distribution for the basic particle, average relative dimensions are calculated for the blade category, into which most loess particles have been shown to fall.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Scott C., Smalley I.J., The original shapes of quartz sand grains, Area, 1991, 23, 353–355
Smalley I.J., Possible formation mechanisms for the modal coarse-silt quartz particles in loess deposits, Quatern. Int., 1990, 7/8, 23–28
Smalley I.J., Formation of quartz sand, Nature, 1996, 211, 476–479
Smalley, I., Making the material: the formation of silt-sized primary mineral particles for loess deposits, Quarternary Sci. Rev., 1995, 14, 645–651
Dijkstra T.A., Smalley I.J., Rogers C.D.F., Particle packing in loess deposits and the problem of structure collapse and hydroconsolidation, Eng. Geol., 1995, 40, 49–64
Rogers C.D.F., Smalley I.J., The shape of loess particles, Naturwissenschaften 1993, 80, 461–462
Smalley I.J., The expected shapes of blocks and grains, J. Sediment. Petrol., 1966, 36, 626–629
Cabrera J.G., Smalley I.J., Quickclays as products of glacial action: a new approach to their nature, geology, distribution and geotechnical properties, Eng. Geol., 1973, 7, 115–133
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Howarth, J.J. The shape of loess particles reviewed. Cent. Eur. J. Geosci. 2, 41–44 (2010). https://doi.org/10.2478/v10085-009-0039-y
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10085-009-0039-y