Impact of biochar on the desiccation cracking behavior of silty clay and its mechanisms

Lu, Yu; Gu, Kai; Zhang, Yuping; Tang, Chaosheng; Shen, Zhengtao; Shi, Bin

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148608

Cited by 36 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Then biochar was air-dried at 40°C for 48 h and crushed. Based on the previous research studies, we selected fine-grain biochar (fine: <0.25 mm, coarse: 0.25 mm < size <2 mm) for our experiment ( 9 – 11 ). Therefore the crushed biochar was sieved through a 0.25 mm (No.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Adding biochar to soil has been considered in various situations, including soil fertility ( 3 , 4 ), remediation of contaminated soils ( 5 ), soil carbon sequestration ( 6 ), and improving soil’s physical and chemical properties ( 7 ). Further, several studies have focused on the effect of biochar on the cracking behavior of silty–clayey soils under desiccation and wetting–drying cycles ( 8 – 12 ). However, among the various biochar applications, little attention has been given to engineering applications, and no research has been undertaken on the impact of the freeze–thaw cycle on surface crack development.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Over the last few years, many studies have been conducted on soil biochar amendment to minimize desiccation cracks ( 8 , 9 , 11 , 18, 19 ). According to Lu et al, biochar lowers desiccation cracks by decreasing tensile stress on the soil surface, increasing repulsive forces between soil particles, occupying the shrinking space between soil particles, and decreasing tensile strength between soil particles ( 11 ). Further, they explain that biochar’s influence is not limited to the final crack pattern but influences the whole process during water evaporation and crack development.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of Cracking in Biochar-Amended Clayey Soil Under Freeze–Thaw Cycles

Hewage

Roksana

Tang

et al. 2023

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation R

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Biochar has been identified as an efficient soil amendment, and it shows promising results in inhibiting desiccation cracks. However, the effects of biochar on soil freeze–thaw cycle behavior on surface cracking have not been considered. This study focuses on the influence of wood biochar dosages on surface cracking under freeze–thaw cycles on clayey soils, and the mechanism was investigated through image analysis and water evaporation. Samples were prepared with different biochar dosages of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%, and maintained for 12 h constant temperature freeze (−20°C) and thaw (21°C) cycles. Every 12 h, sample weight, 2D images, and 3D scans were taken. Also, a parallel desiccation experiment was conducted at room temperature for comparison purposes. Results show that with an increased dosage of biochar for the freeze–thaw samples, the crack ratio, fractal dimension, total crack length, and average crack width decrease. Also, the crack propagation rate decreased with the increased amount of biochar. Further, the water evaporation rate decreased with increasing biochar for the freeze–thaw samples; the reasons can be correlated with the reduced thermal conductivity of soil with added biochar, and the reduction in bulk density causing reduced thermal conductivity. Results indicate that the final crack patterns are associated with the initial ice crystal patterns. Samples with low biochar produced larger-sized parallel layered texture ice crystals, and increased biochar content caused homogeneous massive ice crystal texture; these responses can be correlated with changes in soil hydraulic conductivity.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of Cracking in Biochar-Amended Clayey Soil Under Freeze–Thaw Cycles

Hewage

Roksana

Tang

et al. 2023

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation R

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“…Primary crack generation and development depend on the soil's tensile strength and the tensile stress's magnitude [5,21]. As the significant primary cracks stabilize and secondary crack development begins, shrinkage of soil occurs, and soil particles get closer, resulting in the widening of the cracks.…”

Section: Crack Reduction Mechanismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Diatomaceous Earth on Desiccation Cracking of Expansive Soils

Tadesse¹

2023

GEOMATE

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Expansive soils shrink and swell, causing considerable density differences as the moisture content varies and cracks develop as the soil dries. This cracking condition has a detrimental effect on the stability of infrastructure built on expansive soil, such as road embankments. This paper investigates the influence of diatomaceous earth (at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% DE percent by mass) on the desiccation cracking of expansive soils. The report demonstrates an image analysis technique to describe soil surface cracking quantitatively. The geometric features of cracks, such as surface crack area and crack connectivity, were estimated and examined. The study considers soil crack area ratio and cracking index to investigate the effect of diatomaceous earth on expansive soil surface cracking. The crack area ratio and cracking index analysis results show that the expansive soil surface cracking is uneven and significant. The soil matrix containing 10% and 20% diatomaceous earth has reduced surface cracking and a homogenous radial cracking pattern. The image analysis approach, an essential method to quantitatively quantify soil desiccation cracking, revealed that diatomaceous earth substantially affects surface crack reduction.

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“…Tillage and residue management influence the soil porosity and the fibre/organic matter content, which in turn affects the movement of water and gas [8]. For instance, the addition of organic matter and biochar were found to decrease crack formation [8,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A First Insight on the Interaction between Desiccation Cracking and Water Transfer in a Luvisol of Belgium

et al. 2021

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The present paper presents the interactions between water retention/evaporation and cracking during the desiccation of intact and disturbed Belgian Luvisol. The disturbed (DS) and undisturbed (NDS) samples (reduced-tillage-residue-in (RTRI) and conventional-tillage-residue-out (CTRO)) were collected from an agricultural field in Gembloux, Wallonia, Belgium. The drying experiment took place in controlled laboratory conditions at 25 °C. Moisture content, soil suction and surface cracks were monitored with a precision balance, a tensiometer and a digital camera, respectively. The image processing and analysis were performed using PCAS® and ImageJ® software. The results showed that crack formation was initiated at a stronger negative suction and a lower water content (Wc) in DS > CTRO > RTRI. The suction and the crack propagation were positively correlated until 300 kPa for the DS and far beyond the wilting point for the NDS. For the NDS, the cracking accelerated after reaching the critical water content (~20% Wc) which arrived at the end of the plateau of evaporation (40 h after crack initiation). The Krischer curve revealed that the soil pore size > 50 µm, and that it is likely that cracks are important parameters for soil permeability. The soil structure and soil fibre content could influence the crack formation dynamic during drying. The agricultural tillage management also influences the crack propagation. As retention and conductivity functions are affected by cracks, it is likely that the movement of fluids in the soil will also be affected by the cracks following a desiccation period (i.e., when the cracked soil is rewetted).

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Impact of biochar on the desiccation cracking behavior of silty clay and its mechanisms

Cited by 36 publications

References 37 publications

Evaluation of Cracking in Biochar-Amended Clayey Soil Under Freeze–Thaw Cycles

Evaluation of Cracking in Biochar-Amended Clayey Soil Under Freeze–Thaw Cycles

Effect of Diatomaceous Earth on Desiccation Cracking of Expansive Soils

A First Insight on the Interaction between Desiccation Cracking and Water Transfer in a Luvisol of Belgium

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