Soil desiccation cracks as a suction–contraction process

Cordero, J. A.; Useche, G.; Prat, Pere C.; Ledesma, Alberto; Santamarina, J. Carlos

doi:10.1680/jgele.17.00070

Cited by 34 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…where A r,i is the area of a given root i and A s is the vertical section area of soil. Since cracks were always observed in the connecting bridge between moulds, A s was always equal to 50 × 40 mm 2 . This index has been used in literature to quantify roots presence and reinforcement of the soil [6,13,26,27].…”

Section: Roots Morphological Characterisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Global warming has led to more extended periods of drought and isolated heavy rainfalls. These events are particularly detrimental in fine-grained soils: very intense drying and wetting cycles generate cracks and alter their hydro-mechanical and structural properties [1,2]. This cracking affects the behaviour of slopes and embankments made with these soils, causing a faster response to rainfall infiltration, affecting their behaviour at the serviceability state and inducing phenomena of shallow or deep instability [3,4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tensile strength of a vegetated and partially saturated soil

et al. 2020

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Vegetated soil’s shear strength has been usually assessed through direct shear tests and under triaxial compression stress paths while less is known about its behaviour under tensile stress. Tensile strength and shrinkage-induced cracking play a crucial role in the hydro-mechanical response of earth structures exposed to drying/wetting cycles. For this purpose, a new device for direct tensile tests has been designed and used to let plants grow in compacted soil samples. The equipment consists of two cylindrical moulds connected to each other by a soil bridge in which failure upon pulling is induced due to geometrical constraints. Different soil’s mechanical responses were observed depending on whether suction was low or high. Indeed, it was detected an increase of soil tensile strength and a more brittle behaviour as suction was increasing. However, at the same suction, vegetated soil’s response was more ductile than that of the corresponding bare soil. Results were analysed within a shear strength criterion for partially saturated soils. The analysis evidenced an increase in shear strength in the vegetated soil. A correlation was found between this increase and the roots’ mechanical and morphological features.

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Section: Roots Morphological Characterisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tensile strength of a vegetated and partially saturated soil

et al. 2020

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“…Secondly, dry Ca(OH) 2 continues to physically absorb water mainly because of the capillary attraction [19] in the Ca(OH) 2 . is capillary suction will provide a driving force for transferring water from the soil to the pile.…”

Section: Reinforcement Mechanisms Ofmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Model for the Spacing of Quicklime Pile to Treat High Water Content Loess

Guo

Nan²,

Guo

2020

Mathematical Problems in Engineering

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There has been a long history for foundation treatment by quicklime pile, but as for establishing a more precise model formula used by actual construction, further research is needed to be done at present. Therefore, how to quantitate the factors affecting pile spacing is of great reference value for both actual constructions and theoretical studies. Based on the reference formula for handling weak foundation by lime pile and the practical problems in the western region, mathematical model analysis method is used to get a new model for high water content loess foundation treatment after considering the factors such as pile expanding, construction method, piles arrangement, and calcium oxide content. In this model, pile spacing coefficient is created and the model formula for different construction methods and different pile arrangements is also given. As a result, the reference formula used in high water content loess is somewhat conservative. The new model is also verified to be rational by the actual works at the end of the paper.

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“…Suction and compressibility have been found to increase with the specific surface of the soil particles. Because clay particles are known to have the greatest specific surface of all soil particles, suction increases with clay content [ 4 ]. The increase in suction due to the water loss decreases the volume of the voids in the soil mass, introducing tensile stress.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Desiccation Cracking Behavior of Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Reinforced Cohesive Soils

Izzo

Miletić

2022

Polymers

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Desiccation cracking of cohesive soils is the development of cracks on the soil surface as a result of a reduction in water content. The formation of desiccation cracks on the cohesive soil surface has an undesirable impact on the mechanical, hydrological, and physicochemical soil properties. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to experimentally and numerically investigate eco-friendly soil improvement additives and their effect on the desiccation cracking behavior of soils. Improvement of soil crack resistance was experimentally studied by conducting desiccation cracking tests on kaolin clay. Biopolymer xanthan gum and recycled carpet fibers were studied as potential sustainable soil improvement additives. In addition, image processing was conducted to describe the effect of an additive on the geometrical characteristics of crack patterns. The results show that the soil improvement additives generally enhanced the soil strength and reduced cracking. Furthermore, a hydro-mechanical model was developed to predict the moisture transfer and onset of desiccation cracks in plain and amended kaolin clays. Data obtained show that the inception of the desiccation cracking and radial displacements were delayed in the improved soil specimens, which is in agreement with the experimental data.

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Soil desiccation cracks as a suction–contraction process

Cited by 34 publications

References 34 publications

Tensile strength of a vegetated and partially saturated soil

Tensile strength of a vegetated and partially saturated soil

A Model for the Spacing of Quicklime Pile to Treat High Water Content Loess

Desiccation Cracking Behavior of Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Reinforced Cohesive Soils

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