Expansive soils, prone to being influenced by the environmental conditions, undergo expansion when water is introduced and shrinkage upon drying. This persistent volumetric fluctuation can induce differential movement...Expansive soils, prone to being influenced by the environmental conditions, undergo expansion when water is introduced and shrinkage upon drying. This persistent volumetric fluctuation can induce differential movements and result in cracking of structures erected upon them. The present research focuses on characterizing the behavior of pavements erected on expansive clays subjected to swelling and shrinkage cycles. Direct shear tests and oedometer tests were conducted in the laboratory on samples of expansive soils undergoing swelling-shrinkage cycles. The experimental data reveal a significant decrease in shear strength, evidenced by a reduction in shear parameters (internal friction angle, cohesion) and a decrease in the modulus of elasticity as the number of cycles increases. A numerical model based on the finite element method was developed to simulate the behavior of a pavement on an expansive clay substrate. The model results indicate an increase in total displacements with the increase in the number of shrinkage-swelling cycles, demonstrating a progressive degradation of the soil’s mechanical behavior. This study contributes to a better understanding of the complex phenomena governing the behavior of expansive soils and serves as a foundation for developing effective management and mitigation strategies for road infrastructures.展开更多
Lateritic soils are found over large areas in tropical countries where their suitability for road engineering is a real concern, both compositionally and mechanically. Mineralogical and geochemical characterization, a...Lateritic soils are found over large areas in tropical countries where their suitability for road engineering is a real concern, both compositionally and mechanically. Mineralogical and geochemical characterization, and profile description were carried out on Pliocene gravel lateritic soils from the Thies region to assess their suitability for road construction. These soils were sampled in Lam-Lam, Mont Rolland, Pout, Ngoundiane and Sindia borrow pits in that region. Minerals that make up these studied materials are quartz, kaolinite, hematite and goethite, identified by X-Ray Diffraction and confirmed with Infrared spectroscopy. This mineralogy is characteristic of lateritic soils which are concretionary structure and are formed in well-drained tropical regions like that of Thies. According to the chemical results, these gravel lateritic soils are poor in organic matter, OM 2/(Al2O3 + Fe2O3) Diop ternary diagram for classifying lateritic soils. Therefore, Thies materials are ferruginous lateritic soils, Al2O3/Fe2O3 < 1, containing non-swelling clay (kaolinite) and rich in gravelly nodules, S/CEC < 50wt%. As a result, these soils are compositionally suitable for road construction. These appreciated mineralogical, geochemical and pedological properties can now help overcome compositional challenges well before determining the bearing capacity of lateritic materials. This mechanical strength, which largely depends on their composition, is decisive in defining the optimal conditions for using lateritic materials in road geotechnics.展开更多
Ten physical and environmental variables collected from an on-the-go soil sensor at two field sites (MF3E and MF11S) in Mississippi, USA, were analyzed to assess soil variability and the interrelationships among the m...Ten physical and environmental variables collected from an on-the-go soil sensor at two field sites (MF3E and MF11S) in Mississippi, USA, were analyzed to assess soil variability and the interrelationships among the measurements. At MF3E, moderate variability was observed in apparent electrical conductivity shallow (ECas), slope, and ECa ratio measurements, with coefficients of variation ranging from 20% to 27%. In contrast, MF11S exhibited higher variability, particularly in ECas and ECad (deep) measurements, which exceeded 30% in their coefficient of variation values, indicating significant differences in soil composition and moisture content. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between the near-infrared-to-red ratio and red reflectance (r = 0.897***) soil values at MF3E. MF11S demonstrated a strong negative correlation between ECas and ECad readings with the x-coordinate (r ***). Scatter plots and fitted models illustrated the complexity of relationships, with many showing nonlinear trends. These findings emphasize the need for continuous monitoring and advanced modeling to understand the dynamic nature of soil properties and their implications for agricultural practices. Future research should explore the underlying mechanisms driving variability in the soil characteristics to enhance soil management strategies at the study sites.展开更多
This work focused on determining the physico-chemical characteristics (pH, carbon and nitrogen) and trace metal elements (TMEs) content (As, Sb, Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb, Cr, Zn) of soils in the Brazzaville city. Soil samples w...This work focused on determining the physico-chemical characteristics (pH, carbon and nitrogen) and trace metal elements (TMEs) content (As, Sb, Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb, Cr, Zn) of soils in the Brazzaville city. Soil samples were taken from a depth of 0 to 20 cm using a hand auger on both banks of five tributaries of the Congo River (Djoué, Mfilou, Mfoa, Tsiémé, Djiri) that flow through the city of Brazzaville. 90 sampling points were defined, with 3 points 250 m apart on the banks and located, for each river, at three sites: upstream, midstream and downstream. Finally, 15 composite samples representative of the study area were taken. The average pH values of the water varied between 6.5 and 7.5. These pH values show that the soils studied are neutral. Total carbon content varied between 0.7% (Djiri) and 1.6% (Djoué). Total nitrogen content ranged from 0.08% (Djiri) to 0.12% (Djoué). TMEs contents varied from 0.5 to 1.8 mg/kg for Sb, from 0.5 to 2.5 mg/kg for As, from 0.1 to 0.18 mg/kg for Cd, from 4.2 to 11.3 mg/kg for Cr, from 0.07 to 0.27 mg/kg for Hg, from 0.7 to 2.4 mg/kg for Ni, from 0 to 158 mg/kg for Pb and from 16 to 105 mg/kg for Zn. The lowest TMEs levels were observed in the soils of the Djiri river, while the highest levels were observed in the soils of the Djoué and Tsiémé rivers. The ANOVA and Bonferroni test did not show significant differences in the means of the parameters measured (p > 0.05). The TMEs levels were below the accepted standards (NF U44-041), with the exception of Pb, which had high levels downstream of the Djoué. According to the pollution index values calculated using soil TME content, the soils on the banks of the Djoué river are considered polluted, while those on the banks of the Tsiémé river are moderately polluted, those on the banks of the Mfoa and Mfilou rivers are slightly polluted, and the soils on the banks of Djiri river are unpolluted.展开更多
Gassy soils are distributed in relatively shallow layers the Quaternary deposit in Hangzhou Bay area. The shallow gassy soils significantly affect the construction of underground projects. Proper characterization of s...Gassy soils are distributed in relatively shallow layers the Quaternary deposit in Hangzhou Bay area. The shallow gassy soils significantly affect the construction of underground projects. Proper characterization of spatial distribution of shallow gassy soils is indispensable prior to construction of underground projects in the area. Due to the costly conditions required in the site investigation for gassy soils, only a limited number of gas pressure data can be obtained in engineering practice, which leads to the uncertainty in characterizing spatial distribution of gassy soils. Determining the number of boreholes for investigating gassy soils and their corresponding locations is pivotal to reducing construction risk induced by gassy soils. However, this primarily relies on the engineering experience in the current site investigation practice. This study develops a probabilistic site investigation optimization method for planning investigation schemes (including the number and locations of boreholes) of gassy soils based on the conditional random field and Monte Carlo simulation. The proposed method aims to provide an optimal investigation scheme before the site investigation based on prior knowledge. Finally, the proposed approach is illustrated using a case study.展开更多
Rationale: The contamination of soil with crude oil poses significant environmental and ecological threats. Bioremediation, particularly through the use of organisms like Pleurotus ostreatus (mushroom) and Eisenia fet...Rationale: The contamination of soil with crude oil poses significant environmental and ecological threats. Bioremediation, particularly through the use of organisms like Pleurotus ostreatus (mushroom) and Eisenia fetida (earthworm), has emerged as a promising approach to mitigate crude oil pollution. Understanding the effectiveness of these organisms in reducing hydrocarbon levels in contaminated soil is crucial for devising sustainable remediation strategies. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Pleurotus ostreatus and Eisenia fetida in remediating crude oil-polluted soil. Specifically, it sought to assess the hydrocarbon profiles in soil treated with these organisms across varying concentrations of crude oil pollution. Method: Crude oil concentration levels ranging from 0% to 10% were applied to soil samples alongside control treatments, including soil only, soil with earthworms, and soil with mushrooms. Each treatment was replicated five times using a randomized complete block design. Standard methods were employed to determine the hydrocarbon contents of the soil. Results: The results indicated a significant increase (P Pleurotus ostreatus and Eisenia fetida exhibited noteworthy reductions in these hydrocarbon levels. At the three-month mark, mushrooms demonstrated a remarkable ability to reduce hydrocarbon content by 70% - 90% compared to the pollution treatment. In contrast, earthworms exhibited minimal potential for hydrocarbon reduction, particularly at both three and six-month intervals. For instance, TOC reduction reached a maximum of 96% with mushroom treatment and 85% with earthworm treatment at 5% crude oil pollution over six months. Conclusion: The findings highlight the effectiveness of Pleurotus ostreatus in significantly reducing hydrocarbon levels in crude oil-polluted soil compared to Eisenia fetida. Mushroom-treated soils consistently exhibited substantial reductions in TOC, TPH, TOG, PAH, and THC over the study period, suggesting their potential as a viable bioremediation agent. In contrast, while earthworms showed some capability in reducing hydrocarbon content, their effectiveness was comparatively limited. Recommendation: Based on the results, it is recommended to utilize Pleurotus ostreatus for the bioremediation of crude oil-polluted soils. Further research could explore optimizing remediation protocols involving mushroom-based treatments for enhanced efficiency. Statement of Significance: This study contributes valuable insights into the application of bioremediation techniques for mitigating crude oil contamination in soil. The demonstrated efficacy of Pleurotus ostreatus underscores its potential as a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for remediating hydrocarbon-polluted environments, offering a promising avenue for environmental restoration and conservation efforts.展开更多
This work focuses on the influence of Al content on the precipitation of nanoprecipitates,growth of prior austenite grains(PAGs),and impact toughness in simulated coarse-grained heat-affected zones (CGHAZs) of two exp...This work focuses on the influence of Al content on the precipitation of nanoprecipitates,growth of prior austenite grains(PAGs),and impact toughness in simulated coarse-grained heat-affected zones (CGHAZs) of two experimental shipbuilding steels after being subjected to high-heat input welding at 400 kJ·cm^(-1).The base metals (BMs) of both steels contained three types of precipitates Type Ⅰ:cubic (Ti,Nb)(C,N),Type Ⅱ:precipitate with cubic (Ti,Nb)(C,N) core and Nb-rich cap,and Type Ⅲ:ellipsoidal Nb-rich precipitate.In the BM of 60Al and 160Al steels,the number densities of the precipitates were 11.37×10^(5) and 13.88×10^(5) mm^(-2),respectively The 60Al and 160Al steel contained 38.12% and 6.39% Type Ⅲ precipitates,respectively.The difference in the content of Type Ⅲ precipitates in the 60Al steel reduced the pinning effect at the elevated temperature of the CGHAZ,which facilitated the growth of PAGs The average PAG sizes in the CGHAZ of the 60Al and 160Al steels were 189.73 and 174.7μm,respectively.In the 60Al steel,the low lattice mismatch among Cu_(2)S,TiN,and γ-Al_(2)O_(3)facilitated the precipitation of Cu_(2)S and TiN onto γ-Al_(2)O_(3)during welding,which decreased the number density of independently precipitated (Ti,Nb)(C,N) particles but increased that of γ-Al_(2)O_(3)–Ti N–Cu_(2)S particles.Thus abnormally large PAGs formed in the CGHAZ of the 60Al steel,and they reached a maximum size of 1 mm.These PAGs greatly reduced the microstructural homogeneity and consequently decreased the impact toughness from 134 (0.016wt%Al) to 54 J (0.006wt%Al)at-40℃.展开更多
The presence of particles larger than the permissible dimensions of conventional laboratory specimens causes difficulty in the determination of shear strength of coarse-grained soils. In this research, the influence o...The presence of particles larger than the permissible dimensions of conventional laboratory specimens causes difficulty in the determination of shear strength of coarse-grained soils. In this research, the influence of particle size on shear strength of coarse-grained soils was investigated by resorting to experimental tests in different scale and numerical simulations based on discrete element method （DEM）. Experimental tests on such soil specimens were based on using the techniques designated as ＂parallel＂ and ＂scalping＂ to prepare gradation of samples in view of the limitation of laboratory specimen size. As a second approach, the direct shear test was numerically simulated on assemblies of elliptical particles. The behaviors of samples under experimental and numerical tests are presented and compared, indicating that the modification of sample gradation has a significant influence on the mechanical properties of coarse-grained soils. It is noted that the shear strengths of samples produced by the scalping method are higher than samples by the parallel method. The scalping method for preparing specimens for direct shear test is therefore recommended. The micromechanical behavior of assemblies under direct shear test is also discussed and the effects of stress level on sample behavior are investigated.展开更多
Evaluation of hydromechanical shear behavior of unsaturated soils is still a challenging issue. The time and cost needed for conducting precise experimental investigation on shear behavior of unsaturated soils have en...Evaluation of hydromechanical shear behavior of unsaturated soils is still a challenging issue. The time and cost needed for conducting precise experimental investigation on shear behavior of unsaturated soils have encouraged several investigators to develop analytical, empirical, or semi-empirical models for predicting the shear behavior of unsaturated soils. However, most of the previously proposed models are for specimens subjected to the isotropic state of stress, without considering the effect of initial shear stress. In this study, a hydromechanical constitutive model is proposed for unsaturated collapsible soils during shearing, with consideration of the effect of the initial shear stress. The model implements an effective stress-based disturbed state concept (DSC) to predict the stress-strain behavior of the soil. Accordingly, material/state variables were defined for both the start of the shearing stage and the critical state of the soil. A series of laboratory tests was performed using a fully automated unsaturated triaxial device to verify the proposed model. The experimental program included 23 suction-controlled unsaturated triaxial shear tests on reconstituted specimens of Gorgan clayey loess wetted to different levels of suctions under both isotropic and anisotropic stress states. The results show excellent agreement between the prediction by the proposed model and the experimental results.展开更多
The main objectives of this study were to investigate the distribution features of the ^(210)Po in abiotic(water and bottom sediments)and biotic(zooplankton,mollusks,fish)components of the North Crimean Canal(NCC)aqua...The main objectives of this study were to investigate the distribution features of the ^(210)Po in abiotic(water and bottom sediments)and biotic(zooplankton,mollusks,fish)components of the North Crimean Canal(NCC)aquatic ecosystem and adjacent irrigated soils as well as assessment of the doses received by water organisms from α-radiation of absorbed ^(210)Po.The samples were processed using standard radiochemical methods accepted in international practice.The activity of ^(210)Po in the samples was measured using the alpha-spectrometric OCTETE Plus complex(ORTEC-AMETEK,USA).The measurement error did not exceed 20%.Activity concentration of ^(210)Po in the studied objects decreased in the following rank:suspended matter(73.6 Bq/kg d.w.)>soils(32.5 Bq/kg d.w.)≈bottom sediments(32.1 Bq/kg d.w.)>mollusks(23.4 Bq/kg w.w.)>fish(6.4 Bq/kg w.w.).The ^(210)Po distribution coefficient(K_(d))values in water between suspended matter and its dissolved parts varied within the 1.4×10^(4)-1.4×10^(5) L/kg range.The concentration factors(CF)of ^(210)Po for hydrobionts of the NCC were in the range 10^(3)-10^(4) L/kg.The calculated absorbed radiation doses from ^(210)Po alpha radiation for the hydrobionts of the North Crimean Canal were significantly below the recommended dose limits.展开更多
To evaluate the geotechnical properties of coarse-grained soil affected by cyclic freeze-thaw,the electrical resistivity and mechanical tests are conducted.The soil specimens are prepared under different water content...To evaluate the geotechnical properties of coarse-grained soil affected by cyclic freeze-thaw,the electrical resistivity and mechanical tests are conducted.The soil specimens are prepared under different water contents,dry densities and exposed to 0?20 freeze-thaw cycles.As a result,the stress?strain behavior of the specimen(w=14.0%andρd=1.90 g/cm^3)changes from strain-hardening into strain-softening due to the freeze-thaw effect.The electrical resistivity of test specimen increases with the freeze-thaw cycles change,but the mechanical parameters(the unconfined compressive strength qu and the deformation modulus E)and brittleness index decrease considerably at the same conditions.All of them tend to be stable after 7?9 cycles.Moreover,both the dry density and the water content have reciprocal effects on the freeze-thaw actions.The failure and pore characteristics of specimens affected by freeze-thaw cycles are discussed by using the image analysis method.Then,an exponential function equation is developed to assess the electrical resistivity of specimens affected by the cyclic freeze-thaw.Linear relations between the mechanical parameters and the electrical resistivity of specimens are established to evaluate the geotechnical properties of the soil exposed to freeze-thaw actions through the corresponding electrical resistivity.展开更多
In order to investigate the influence of intermediate principal stress on the stress-strain and strength behaviour of a coarse-grained soil, a series of true triaxial tests were performed. The tests were conducted in ...In order to investigate the influence of intermediate principal stress on the stress-strain and strength behaviour of a coarse-grained soil, a series of true triaxial tests were performed. The tests were conducted in a recently developed true triaxial apparatus with constant minor principal stress σ3 and constant value of intermediate principal stress ratio b=（σ2-σ3）/（σ1-σ3） （al is the vertical stress, and % is the horizontal stress）. It is found that the intermediate principal strain, ε2, increases from negative to positive value with the increase of parameter b from zero to unity under a constant minor principal stress. The minor principal strain, ε3, is always negative. This implies that the specimen exhibits an evident anisotropy. The relationship between b and friction angle obtained from the tests is different from that predicted by LADE-DUNCAN and MATSUOKA-NAKAI criteria. Based on the test results, an empirical equation of g（b） that is the shape function of the failure surface on re-plane was presented. The proposed equation is verified to be reasonable by comparing the predicted results using the equation with true triaxial test results of soils, such as coarse-grained soils in this study, sands and gravels in other studies.展开更多
Gradation equation is one way to describe the gradation of coarse-grained soil conveniently,exactly and quantitatively.With the gradation equation,the influence of gradation on the mechanical behaviors of coarse-grain...Gradation equation is one way to describe the gradation of coarse-grained soil conveniently,exactly and quantitatively.With the gradation equation,the influence of gradation on the mechanical behaviors of coarse-grained soil can be expressed quantitatively.A new gradation equation with a parameter is proposed.The basic properties and applicability of the new equation are studied.The results show that the proposed equation has the applicability to express coarse-grained soil gradation(CSG),and the range of the parameter β is found to be 0<β<1.The value ofbdetermines the gradation curve shape.If β>0.5,the gradation curve is sigmoidal,otherwise the gradation curve is hyperbolic.For well graded gradations,the parameter has the value of 0.13<β<1.Several CSGs used in domestic and foreign earth-rockfill dams are probed,and the value of the parameterbfalls in the range of 0.18 to 0.97.The investigation of the range of β is of value to guide the design for CSG of earth-rockfill dam.展开更多
By using large scale triaxial shearing apparatus,consolidated-drained shear tests were conducted on coarse-grained soil with different gradations.In order to describe their deformation rules,three main characteristics...By using large scale triaxial shearing apparatus,consolidated-drained shear tests were conducted on coarse-grained soil with different gradations.In order to describe their deformation rules,three main characteristics of tangent Poisson ratio curves were summarized and the reason was revealed by dividing the movement of soil particles into two kinds: the movement of fine particles and the movement of coarse particles.Then,a volumetric strain expression and a tangent Poisson ratio expression were put forward,and two defects of widely used Duncan-Chang model were fixed.Results calculated from them agree well with test results.There are three parameters,namely L,G and F,in this new model.Parameter L reflects the dilatancy of a specimen and L=4 can be used as a criterion to estimate whether a certain kind of soil has dilatancy quality or not.Parameters G and F relate to the initial slope of tangent Poisson ratio curves,and G=F=0 indicates a special situation which happens in dense granular material of the same diameter.Influences of various gradations on volume deformation are mainly reflected in parameter L which is smaller when there are more gravels in specimens.展开更多
This paper aims to determine the optimal fines content of coarse-grained soil required to simultaneously achieve weaker frost susceptibility and better bearing capacity. We studied the frost susceptibility and strengt...This paper aims to determine the optimal fines content of coarse-grained soil required to simultaneously achieve weaker frost susceptibility and better bearing capacity. We studied the frost susceptibility and strength properties of coarse-grained soil by means of frost heaving tests and static triaxial tests, and the results are as follows： （1） the freezing temperature of coarse-grained soil decreased gradually and then leveled off with incremental increases in the percent content of fines; （2） the fines content proved to be an important factor influencing the frost heave susceptibility and strength properties of coarse-grained soil. With incremental increases in the percent content of fines, the frost heave ratio increased gradually and the cohesion function of fines effectively enhanced the shear strength of coarse-grained soil before freeze-thaw, but the frost susceptibility of fines weakened the shear strength of coarse-grained soil after freeze-thaw; （3） with increasing numbers of freeze-thaw cycles, the shear strength of coarse-grained soil decreased and then stabilized after the ninth freeze-thaw cycle, and therefore the mechanical indexes of the ninth freeze-thaw cycle are recommended for the engi- neering design values; and （4） considering frost susceptibility and strength properties as a whole, the optimal fines content of 5% is recommended for railway sub,fade coarse-~rained soil fillings in frozen re^ions.展开更多
The expansion of a thick-walled hollow cylinder in soil is of non-self-similar nature that the stress/deformation paths are not the same for different soil material points.As a result,this problem cannot be solved by ...The expansion of a thick-walled hollow cylinder in soil is of non-self-similar nature that the stress/deformation paths are not the same for different soil material points.As a result,this problem cannot be solved by the common self-similar-based similarity techniques.This paper proposes a novel,exact solution for rigorous drained expansion analysis of a hollow cylinder of critical state soils.Considering stress-dependent elastic moduli of soils,new analytical stress and displacement solutions for the nonself-similar problem are developed taking the small strain assumption in the elastic zone.In the plastic zone,the cavity expansion response is formulated into a set of first-order partial differential equations(PDEs)with the combination use of Eulerian and Lagrangian descriptions,and a novel solution algorithm is developed to efficiently solve this complex boundary value problem.The solution is presented in a general form and thus can be useful for a wide range of soils.With the new solution,the non-self-similar nature induced by the finite outer boundary is clearly demonstrated and highlighted,which is found to be greatly different to the behaviour of cavity expansion in infinite soil mass.The present solution may serve as a benchmark for verifying the performance of advanced numerical techniques with critical state soil models and be used to capture the finite boundary effect for pressuremeter tests in small-sized calibration chambers.展开更多
In recent years,the exploration of seabed has been intensified,but the submarine soils of silt and sand in the Yellow Sea area have not been well investigated so far.In this study,the physical and mechanical propertie...In recent years,the exploration of seabed has been intensified,but the submarine soils of silt and sand in the Yellow Sea area have not been well investigated so far.In this study,the physical and mechanical properties of silt and sand from the Yellow Sea were measured using a direct shear apparatus and their microstructures were observed using a scanning electron microscope.The test results suggest that the shear strength of silt and sand increases linearly with the increase of normal stress.Based on the direct shear test,the scanning electron microscope was used to observe the section surface of sand.It is observed that the section surface becomes rough,with many“V”‐shaped cracks.Many particles appear on the surface of the silt structure and tend to be disintegrated.The X‐ray diffraction experiment reveals that the sand and silt have different compositions.The shear strength of sand is slightly greater than that of silt under high stress,which is related to the shape of soil particles and the mineral composition.These results can be a reference for further study of other soils in the Yellow Sea;meanwhile,they can serve as soil parameters for the stability and durability analyses of offshore infrastructure construction.展开更多
This study aimed to investigate the pollution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risks associated with trace metal(loid)s(TMs) in the major agricultural producing areas in Chongqing, China. We analyzed ...This study aimed to investigate the pollution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risks associated with trace metal(loid)s(TMs) in the major agricultural producing areas in Chongqing, China. We analyzed the source apportionment and assessed the health risk of TMs in agricultural soils by using positive matrix factorization(PMF) model and health risk assessment(HRA) model based on Monte Carlo simulation. Meanwhile, we combined PMF and HRA models to explore the health risks of TMs in agricultural soils by different pollution sources to determine the priority control factors. Results showed that the average contents of cadmium(Cd), arsenic (As), lead(Pb), chromium(Cr), copper(Cu), nickel(Ni), and zinc(Zn) in the soil were found to be 0.26, 5.93, 27.14, 61.32, 23.81, 32.45, and 78.65 mg/kg, respectively. Spatial analysis and source apportionment analysis revealed that urban and industrial sources, agricultural sources, and natural sources accounted for 33.0%, 27.7%, and 39.3% of TM accumulation in the soil, respectively. In the HRA model based on Monte Carlo simulation, noncarcinogenic risks were deemed negligible(hazard index <1), the carcinogenic risks were at acceptable level(10^(-6)<total carcinogenic risk ≤ 10^(-4)), with higher risks observed for children compared to adults. The relationship between TMs, their sources, and health risks indicated that urban and industrial sources were primarily associated with As, contributing to 75.1% of carcinogenic risks and 55.7% of non-carcinogenic risks, making them the primary control factors. Meanwhile, agricultural sources were primarily linked to Cd and Pb, contributing to 13.1% of carcinogenic risks and 21.8% of non-carcinogenic risks, designating them as secondary control factors.展开更多
Coral sandy soils widely exist in coral island reefs and seashores in tropical and subtropical regions.Due to the unique marine depositional environment of coral sandy soils,the engineering characteristics and respons...Coral sandy soils widely exist in coral island reefs and seashores in tropical and subtropical regions.Due to the unique marine depositional environment of coral sandy soils,the engineering characteristics and responses of these soils subjected to monotonic and cyclic loadings have been a subject of intense interest among the geotechnical and earthquake engineering communities.This paper critically reviews the progress of experimental investigations on the undrained behavior of coral sandy soils under monotonic and cyclic loadings over the last three decades.The focus of coverage includes the contractive-dilative behavior,the pattern of excess pore-water pressure(EPWP)generation and the liquefaction mechanism and liquefaction resistance,the small-strain shear modulus and strain-dependent shear modulus and damping,the cyclic softening feature,and the anisotropic characteristics of undrained responses of saturated coral sandy soils.In particular,the advances made in the past decades are reviewed from the following aspects:(1)the characterization of factors that impact the mechanism and patterns of EPWP build-up;(2)the identification of liquefaction triggering in terms of the apparent viscosity and the average flow coefficient;(3)the establishment of the invariable form of strain-based,stress-based,or energy-based EPWP ratio formulas and the unique relationship between the new proxy of liquefaction resistance and the number of cycles required to reach liquefaction;(4)the establishment of the invariable form of the predictive formulas of small strain modulus and strain-dependent shear modulus;and(5)the investigation on the effects of stress-induced anisotropy on liquefaction susceptibility and dynamic deformation characteristics.Insights gained through the critical review of these advances in the past decades offer a perspective for future research to further resolve the fundamental issues concerning the liquefaction mechanism and responses of coral sandy sites subjected to cyclic loadings associated with seismic events in marine environments.展开更多
The traditional standard wet sieving method uses steel sieves with aperture?0.063 mm and can only determine the particle size distribution(PSD)of gravel and sand in general soil.This paper extends the traditional meth...The traditional standard wet sieving method uses steel sieves with aperture?0.063 mm and can only determine the particle size distribution(PSD)of gravel and sand in general soil.This paper extends the traditional method and presents an extended wet sieving method.The extended method uses both the steel sieves and the nylon filter cloth sieves.The apertures of the cloth sieves are smaller than 0.063 mm and equal 0.048 mm,0.038 mm,0.014 mm,0.012 mm,0.0063 mm,0.004 mm,0.003 mm,0.002 mm,and 0.001 mm,respectively.The extended method uses five steps to separate the general soil into many material sub-groups of gravel,sand,silt and clay with known particle size ranges.The complete PSD of the general soil is then calculated from the dry masses of the individual material sub-groups.The extended method is demonstrated with a general soil of completely decomposed granite(CDG)in Hong Kong,China.The silt and clay materials with different particle size ranges are further examined,checked and verified using stereomicroscopic observation,physical and chemical property tests.The results further confirm the correctness of the extended wet sieving method.展开更多
文摘Expansive soils, prone to being influenced by the environmental conditions, undergo expansion when water is introduced and shrinkage upon drying. This persistent volumetric fluctuation can induce differential movements and result in cracking of structures erected upon them. The present research focuses on characterizing the behavior of pavements erected on expansive clays subjected to swelling and shrinkage cycles. Direct shear tests and oedometer tests were conducted in the laboratory on samples of expansive soils undergoing swelling-shrinkage cycles. The experimental data reveal a significant decrease in shear strength, evidenced by a reduction in shear parameters (internal friction angle, cohesion) and a decrease in the modulus of elasticity as the number of cycles increases. A numerical model based on the finite element method was developed to simulate the behavior of a pavement on an expansive clay substrate. The model results indicate an increase in total displacements with the increase in the number of shrinkage-swelling cycles, demonstrating a progressive degradation of the soil’s mechanical behavior. This study contributes to a better understanding of the complex phenomena governing the behavior of expansive soils and serves as a foundation for developing effective management and mitigation strategies for road infrastructures.
文摘Lateritic soils are found over large areas in tropical countries where their suitability for road engineering is a real concern, both compositionally and mechanically. Mineralogical and geochemical characterization, and profile description were carried out on Pliocene gravel lateritic soils from the Thies region to assess their suitability for road construction. These soils were sampled in Lam-Lam, Mont Rolland, Pout, Ngoundiane and Sindia borrow pits in that region. Minerals that make up these studied materials are quartz, kaolinite, hematite and goethite, identified by X-Ray Diffraction and confirmed with Infrared spectroscopy. This mineralogy is characteristic of lateritic soils which are concretionary structure and are formed in well-drained tropical regions like that of Thies. According to the chemical results, these gravel lateritic soils are poor in organic matter, OM 2/(Al2O3 + Fe2O3) Diop ternary diagram for classifying lateritic soils. Therefore, Thies materials are ferruginous lateritic soils, Al2O3/Fe2O3 < 1, containing non-swelling clay (kaolinite) and rich in gravelly nodules, S/CEC < 50wt%. As a result, these soils are compositionally suitable for road construction. These appreciated mineralogical, geochemical and pedological properties can now help overcome compositional challenges well before determining the bearing capacity of lateritic materials. This mechanical strength, which largely depends on their composition, is decisive in defining the optimal conditions for using lateritic materials in road geotechnics.
文摘Ten physical and environmental variables collected from an on-the-go soil sensor at two field sites (MF3E and MF11S) in Mississippi, USA, were analyzed to assess soil variability and the interrelationships among the measurements. At MF3E, moderate variability was observed in apparent electrical conductivity shallow (ECas), slope, and ECa ratio measurements, with coefficients of variation ranging from 20% to 27%. In contrast, MF11S exhibited higher variability, particularly in ECas and ECad (deep) measurements, which exceeded 30% in their coefficient of variation values, indicating significant differences in soil composition and moisture content. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between the near-infrared-to-red ratio and red reflectance (r = 0.897***) soil values at MF3E. MF11S demonstrated a strong negative correlation between ECas and ECad readings with the x-coordinate (r ***). Scatter plots and fitted models illustrated the complexity of relationships, with many showing nonlinear trends. These findings emphasize the need for continuous monitoring and advanced modeling to understand the dynamic nature of soil properties and their implications for agricultural practices. Future research should explore the underlying mechanisms driving variability in the soil characteristics to enhance soil management strategies at the study sites.
文摘This work focused on determining the physico-chemical characteristics (pH, carbon and nitrogen) and trace metal elements (TMEs) content (As, Sb, Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb, Cr, Zn) of soils in the Brazzaville city. Soil samples were taken from a depth of 0 to 20 cm using a hand auger on both banks of five tributaries of the Congo River (Djoué, Mfilou, Mfoa, Tsiémé, Djiri) that flow through the city of Brazzaville. 90 sampling points were defined, with 3 points 250 m apart on the banks and located, for each river, at three sites: upstream, midstream and downstream. Finally, 15 composite samples representative of the study area were taken. The average pH values of the water varied between 6.5 and 7.5. These pH values show that the soils studied are neutral. Total carbon content varied between 0.7% (Djiri) and 1.6% (Djoué). Total nitrogen content ranged from 0.08% (Djiri) to 0.12% (Djoué). TMEs contents varied from 0.5 to 1.8 mg/kg for Sb, from 0.5 to 2.5 mg/kg for As, from 0.1 to 0.18 mg/kg for Cd, from 4.2 to 11.3 mg/kg for Cr, from 0.07 to 0.27 mg/kg for Hg, from 0.7 to 2.4 mg/kg for Ni, from 0 to 158 mg/kg for Pb and from 16 to 105 mg/kg for Zn. The lowest TMEs levels were observed in the soils of the Djiri river, while the highest levels were observed in the soils of the Djoué and Tsiémé rivers. The ANOVA and Bonferroni test did not show significant differences in the means of the parameters measured (p > 0.05). The TMEs levels were below the accepted standards (NF U44-041), with the exception of Pb, which had high levels downstream of the Djoué. According to the pollution index values calculated using soil TME content, the soils on the banks of the Djoué river are considered polluted, while those on the banks of the Tsiémé river are moderately polluted, those on the banks of the Mfoa and Mfilou rivers are slightly polluted, and the soils on the banks of Djiri river are unpolluted.
文摘Gassy soils are distributed in relatively shallow layers the Quaternary deposit in Hangzhou Bay area. The shallow gassy soils significantly affect the construction of underground projects. Proper characterization of spatial distribution of shallow gassy soils is indispensable prior to construction of underground projects in the area. Due to the costly conditions required in the site investigation for gassy soils, only a limited number of gas pressure data can be obtained in engineering practice, which leads to the uncertainty in characterizing spatial distribution of gassy soils. Determining the number of boreholes for investigating gassy soils and their corresponding locations is pivotal to reducing construction risk induced by gassy soils. However, this primarily relies on the engineering experience in the current site investigation practice. This study develops a probabilistic site investigation optimization method for planning investigation schemes (including the number and locations of boreholes) of gassy soils based on the conditional random field and Monte Carlo simulation. The proposed method aims to provide an optimal investigation scheme before the site investigation based on prior knowledge. Finally, the proposed approach is illustrated using a case study.
文摘Rationale: The contamination of soil with crude oil poses significant environmental and ecological threats. Bioremediation, particularly through the use of organisms like Pleurotus ostreatus (mushroom) and Eisenia fetida (earthworm), has emerged as a promising approach to mitigate crude oil pollution. Understanding the effectiveness of these organisms in reducing hydrocarbon levels in contaminated soil is crucial for devising sustainable remediation strategies. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Pleurotus ostreatus and Eisenia fetida in remediating crude oil-polluted soil. Specifically, it sought to assess the hydrocarbon profiles in soil treated with these organisms across varying concentrations of crude oil pollution. Method: Crude oil concentration levels ranging from 0% to 10% were applied to soil samples alongside control treatments, including soil only, soil with earthworms, and soil with mushrooms. Each treatment was replicated five times using a randomized complete block design. Standard methods were employed to determine the hydrocarbon contents of the soil. Results: The results indicated a significant increase (P Pleurotus ostreatus and Eisenia fetida exhibited noteworthy reductions in these hydrocarbon levels. At the three-month mark, mushrooms demonstrated a remarkable ability to reduce hydrocarbon content by 70% - 90% compared to the pollution treatment. In contrast, earthworms exhibited minimal potential for hydrocarbon reduction, particularly at both three and six-month intervals. For instance, TOC reduction reached a maximum of 96% with mushroom treatment and 85% with earthworm treatment at 5% crude oil pollution over six months. Conclusion: The findings highlight the effectiveness of Pleurotus ostreatus in significantly reducing hydrocarbon levels in crude oil-polluted soil compared to Eisenia fetida. Mushroom-treated soils consistently exhibited substantial reductions in TOC, TPH, TOG, PAH, and THC over the study period, suggesting their potential as a viable bioremediation agent. In contrast, while earthworms showed some capability in reducing hydrocarbon content, their effectiveness was comparatively limited. Recommendation: Based on the results, it is recommended to utilize Pleurotus ostreatus for the bioremediation of crude oil-polluted soils. Further research could explore optimizing remediation protocols involving mushroom-based treatments for enhanced efficiency. Statement of Significance: This study contributes valuable insights into the application of bioremediation techniques for mitigating crude oil contamination in soil. The demonstrated efficacy of Pleurotus ostreatus underscores its potential as a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for remediating hydrocarbon-polluted environments, offering a promising avenue for environmental restoration and conservation efforts.
基金support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U1960202)the Opening Foundation from Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hot Manufacturing, China (No. 18DZ2253400)。
文摘This work focuses on the influence of Al content on the precipitation of nanoprecipitates,growth of prior austenite grains(PAGs),and impact toughness in simulated coarse-grained heat-affected zones (CGHAZs) of two experimental shipbuilding steels after being subjected to high-heat input welding at 400 kJ·cm^(-1).The base metals (BMs) of both steels contained three types of precipitates Type Ⅰ:cubic (Ti,Nb)(C,N),Type Ⅱ:precipitate with cubic (Ti,Nb)(C,N) core and Nb-rich cap,and Type Ⅲ:ellipsoidal Nb-rich precipitate.In the BM of 60Al and 160Al steels,the number densities of the precipitates were 11.37×10^(5) and 13.88×10^(5) mm^(-2),respectively The 60Al and 160Al steel contained 38.12% and 6.39% Type Ⅲ precipitates,respectively.The difference in the content of Type Ⅲ precipitates in the 60Al steel reduced the pinning effect at the elevated temperature of the CGHAZ,which facilitated the growth of PAGs The average PAG sizes in the CGHAZ of the 60Al and 160Al steels were 189.73 and 174.7μm,respectively.In the 60Al steel,the low lattice mismatch among Cu_(2)S,TiN,and γ-Al_(2)O_(3)facilitated the precipitation of Cu_(2)S and TiN onto γ-Al_(2)O_(3)during welding,which decreased the number density of independently precipitated (Ti,Nb)(C,N) particles but increased that of γ-Al_(2)O_(3)–Ti N–Cu_(2)S particles.Thus abnormally large PAGs formed in the CGHAZ of the 60Al steel,and they reached a maximum size of 1 mm.These PAGs greatly reduced the microstructural homogeneity and consequently decreased the impact toughness from 134 (0.016wt%Al) to 54 J (0.006wt%Al)at-40℃.
文摘The presence of particles larger than the permissible dimensions of conventional laboratory specimens causes difficulty in the determination of shear strength of coarse-grained soils. In this research, the influence of particle size on shear strength of coarse-grained soils was investigated by resorting to experimental tests in different scale and numerical simulations based on discrete element method （DEM）. Experimental tests on such soil specimens were based on using the techniques designated as ＂parallel＂ and ＂scalping＂ to prepare gradation of samples in view of the limitation of laboratory specimen size. As a second approach, the direct shear test was numerically simulated on assemblies of elliptical particles. The behaviors of samples under experimental and numerical tests are presented and compared, indicating that the modification of sample gradation has a significant influence on the mechanical properties of coarse-grained soils. It is noted that the shear strengths of samples produced by the scalping method are higher than samples by the parallel method. The scalping method for preparing specimens for direct shear test is therefore recommended. The micromechanical behavior of assemblies under direct shear test is also discussed and the effects of stress level on sample behavior are investigated.
文摘Evaluation of hydromechanical shear behavior of unsaturated soils is still a challenging issue. The time and cost needed for conducting precise experimental investigation on shear behavior of unsaturated soils have encouraged several investigators to develop analytical, empirical, or semi-empirical models for predicting the shear behavior of unsaturated soils. However, most of the previously proposed models are for specimens subjected to the isotropic state of stress, without considering the effect of initial shear stress. In this study, a hydromechanical constitutive model is proposed for unsaturated collapsible soils during shearing, with consideration of the effect of the initial shear stress. The model implements an effective stress-based disturbed state concept (DSC) to predict the stress-strain behavior of the soil. Accordingly, material/state variables were defined for both the start of the shearing stage and the critical state of the soil. A series of laboratory tests was performed using a fully automated unsaturated triaxial device to verify the proposed model. The experimental program included 23 suction-controlled unsaturated triaxial shear tests on reconstituted specimens of Gorgan clayey loess wetted to different levels of suctions under both isotropic and anisotropic stress states. The results show excellent agreement between the prediction by the proposed model and the experimental results.
基金supported by the Russian Science Foundation,grant number 23-26-00128,“The role of the irrigation system of the North Crimean Canal in the transfer of long-lived radionuclides of Chernobyl origin,heavy metals,as well as hydrocarbons from the Dnieper water to irrigated farmlands of the Crimea.”。
文摘The main objectives of this study were to investigate the distribution features of the ^(210)Po in abiotic(water and bottom sediments)and biotic(zooplankton,mollusks,fish)components of the North Crimean Canal(NCC)aquatic ecosystem and adjacent irrigated soils as well as assessment of the doses received by water organisms from α-radiation of absorbed ^(210)Po.The samples were processed using standard radiochemical methods accepted in international practice.The activity of ^(210)Po in the samples was measured using the alpha-spectrometric OCTETE Plus complex(ORTEC-AMETEK,USA).The measurement error did not exceed 20%.Activity concentration of ^(210)Po in the studied objects decreased in the following rank:suspended matter(73.6 Bq/kg d.w.)>soils(32.5 Bq/kg d.w.)≈bottom sediments(32.1 Bq/kg d.w.)>mollusks(23.4 Bq/kg w.w.)>fish(6.4 Bq/kg w.w.).The ^(210)Po distribution coefficient(K_(d))values in water between suspended matter and its dissolved parts varied within the 1.4×10^(4)-1.4×10^(5) L/kg range.The concentration factors(CF)of ^(210)Po for hydrobionts of the NCC were in the range 10^(3)-10^(4) L/kg.The calculated absorbed radiation doses from ^(210)Po alpha radiation for the hydrobionts of the North Crimean Canal were significantly below the recommended dose limits.
基金Project(2016ZGHJ/XZHTL-YQSC-26)supported by the Key Scientific Research Project of China Gold GroupProject(SQ2019QZKK2806)supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research(STEP)Program,China+1 种基金Project(300102268716)supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,ChinaProject(LHKA-G201701)supported by the Science and Technology Project of Yalong River Hydropower Development Company,China。
文摘To evaluate the geotechnical properties of coarse-grained soil affected by cyclic freeze-thaw,the electrical resistivity and mechanical tests are conducted.The soil specimens are prepared under different water contents,dry densities and exposed to 0?20 freeze-thaw cycles.As a result,the stress?strain behavior of the specimen(w=14.0%andρd=1.90 g/cm^3)changes from strain-hardening into strain-softening due to the freeze-thaw effect.The electrical resistivity of test specimen increases with the freeze-thaw cycles change,but the mechanical parameters(the unconfined compressive strength qu and the deformation modulus E)and brittleness index decrease considerably at the same conditions.All of them tend to be stable after 7?9 cycles.Moreover,both the dry density and the water content have reciprocal effects on the freeze-thaw actions.The failure and pore characteristics of specimens affected by freeze-thaw cycles are discussed by using the image analysis method.Then,an exponential function equation is developed to assess the electrical resistivity of specimens affected by the cyclic freeze-thaw.Linear relations between the mechanical parameters and the electrical resistivity of specimens are established to evaluate the geotechnical properties of the soil exposed to freeze-thaw actions through the corresponding electrical resistivity.
基金Project(50639050) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Er-Tan Hydraulicpower Limited CompanyProject(50579014) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China+3 种基金Project(09KJD560003) supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of ChinaProject(BK2007582) supported by Jiangsu Provincial Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(20070294002) supported by the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of ChinaProject(GH200904) supported by Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Geomechanics and Embankment Engineering,Hohai University,China
文摘In order to investigate the influence of intermediate principal stress on the stress-strain and strength behaviour of a coarse-grained soil, a series of true triaxial tests were performed. The tests were conducted in a recently developed true triaxial apparatus with constant minor principal stress σ3 and constant value of intermediate principal stress ratio b=（σ2-σ3）/（σ1-σ3） （al is the vertical stress, and % is the horizontal stress）. It is found that the intermediate principal strain, ε2, increases from negative to positive value with the increase of parameter b from zero to unity under a constant minor principal stress. The minor principal strain, ε3, is always negative. This implies that the specimen exhibits an evident anisotropy. The relationship between b and friction angle obtained from the tests is different from that predicted by LADE-DUNCAN and MATSUOKA-NAKAI criteria. Based on the test results, an empirical equation of g（b） that is the shape function of the failure surface on re-plane was presented. The proposed equation is verified to be reasonable by comparing the predicted results using the equation with true triaxial test results of soils, such as coarse-grained soils in this study, sands and gravels in other studies.
基金Project(2018YFC1508505)supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of ChinaProject(U1865104)supported by Yalong River Joint Fund of Natural Science Foundation of China-Yalong River Basin Hydropower Development Co.,Ltd.,China+1 种基金Project(51479052)supported by National Natural Science of ChinaProject(2019T120443)supported by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation。
文摘Gradation equation is one way to describe the gradation of coarse-grained soil conveniently,exactly and quantitatively.With the gradation equation,the influence of gradation on the mechanical behaviors of coarse-grained soil can be expressed quantitatively.A new gradation equation with a parameter is proposed.The basic properties and applicability of the new equation are studied.The results show that the proposed equation has the applicability to express coarse-grained soil gradation(CSG),and the range of the parameter β is found to be 0<β<1.The value ofbdetermines the gradation curve shape.If β>0.5,the gradation curve is sigmoidal,otherwise the gradation curve is hyperbolic.For well graded gradations,the parameter has the value of 0.13<β<1.Several CSGs used in domestic and foreign earth-rockfill dams are probed,and the value of the parameterbfalls in the range of 0.18 to 0.97.The investigation of the range of β is of value to guide the design for CSG of earth-rockfill dam.
基金Project(50908233)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(2008G031-Q)supported by National Engineering Laboratory for High Speed Railway Construction,China
文摘By using large scale triaxial shearing apparatus,consolidated-drained shear tests were conducted on coarse-grained soil with different gradations.In order to describe their deformation rules,three main characteristics of tangent Poisson ratio curves were summarized and the reason was revealed by dividing the movement of soil particles into two kinds: the movement of fine particles and the movement of coarse particles.Then,a volumetric strain expression and a tangent Poisson ratio expression were put forward,and two defects of widely used Duncan-Chang model were fixed.Results calculated from them agree well with test results.There are three parameters,namely L,G and F,in this new model.Parameter L reflects the dilatancy of a specimen and L=4 can be used as a criterion to estimate whether a certain kind of soil has dilatancy quality or not.Parameters G and F relate to the initial slope of tangent Poisson ratio curves,and G=F=0 indicates a special situation which happens in dense granular material of the same diameter.Influences of various gradations on volume deformation are mainly reflected in parameter L which is smaller when there are more gravels in specimens.
基金supported by the National Key Technology Support Program of China (No.2012BAG05B00)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51208320 and 51178281)the Key Subject of China Railway Corporation (Nos. 2014G003-F and 2014G003-A)
文摘This paper aims to determine the optimal fines content of coarse-grained soil required to simultaneously achieve weaker frost susceptibility and better bearing capacity. We studied the frost susceptibility and strength properties of coarse-grained soil by means of frost heaving tests and static triaxial tests, and the results are as follows： （1） the freezing temperature of coarse-grained soil decreased gradually and then leveled off with incremental increases in the percent content of fines; （2） the fines content proved to be an important factor influencing the frost heave susceptibility and strength properties of coarse-grained soil. With incremental increases in the percent content of fines, the frost heave ratio increased gradually and the cohesion function of fines effectively enhanced the shear strength of coarse-grained soil before freeze-thaw, but the frost susceptibility of fines weakened the shear strength of coarse-grained soil after freeze-thaw; （3） with increasing numbers of freeze-thaw cycles, the shear strength of coarse-grained soil decreased and then stabilized after the ninth freeze-thaw cycle, and therefore the mechanical indexes of the ninth freeze-thaw cycle are recommended for the engi- neering design values; and （4） considering frost susceptibility and strength properties as a whole, the optimal fines content of 5% is recommended for railway sub,fade coarse-~rained soil fillings in frozen re^ions.
基金funding support from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2023YFB2604004)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52108374)the“Taishan”Scholar Program of Shandong Province,China(Grant No.tsqn201909016)。
文摘The expansion of a thick-walled hollow cylinder in soil is of non-self-similar nature that the stress/deformation paths are not the same for different soil material points.As a result,this problem cannot be solved by the common self-similar-based similarity techniques.This paper proposes a novel,exact solution for rigorous drained expansion analysis of a hollow cylinder of critical state soils.Considering stress-dependent elastic moduli of soils,new analytical stress and displacement solutions for the nonself-similar problem are developed taking the small strain assumption in the elastic zone.In the plastic zone,the cavity expansion response is formulated into a set of first-order partial differential equations(PDEs)with the combination use of Eulerian and Lagrangian descriptions,and a novel solution algorithm is developed to efficiently solve this complex boundary value problem.The solution is presented in a general form and thus can be useful for a wide range of soils.With the new solution,the non-self-similar nature induced by the finite outer boundary is clearly demonstrated and highlighted,which is found to be greatly different to the behaviour of cavity expansion in infinite soil mass.The present solution may serve as a benchmark for verifying the performance of advanced numerical techniques with critical state soil models and be used to capture the finite boundary effect for pressuremeter tests in small-sized calibration chambers.
基金Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,Grant/Award Number:BK20210527National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Number:42107158Training Program for Innovation and Entrepreneurship,China University of Mining and Technology。
文摘In recent years,the exploration of seabed has been intensified,but the submarine soils of silt and sand in the Yellow Sea area have not been well investigated so far.In this study,the physical and mechanical properties of silt and sand from the Yellow Sea were measured using a direct shear apparatus and their microstructures were observed using a scanning electron microscope.The test results suggest that the shear strength of silt and sand increases linearly with the increase of normal stress.Based on the direct shear test,the scanning electron microscope was used to observe the section surface of sand.It is observed that the section surface becomes rough,with many“V”‐shaped cracks.Many particles appear on the surface of the silt structure and tend to be disintegrated.The X‐ray diffraction experiment reveals that the sand and silt have different compositions.The shear strength of sand is slightly greater than that of silt under high stress,which is related to the shape of soil particles and the mineral composition.These results can be a reference for further study of other soils in the Yellow Sea;meanwhile,they can serve as soil parameters for the stability and durability analyses of offshore infrastructure construction.
基金supported by Project of Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau (cstc2022jxjl0005)。
文摘This study aimed to investigate the pollution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risks associated with trace metal(loid)s(TMs) in the major agricultural producing areas in Chongqing, China. We analyzed the source apportionment and assessed the health risk of TMs in agricultural soils by using positive matrix factorization(PMF) model and health risk assessment(HRA) model based on Monte Carlo simulation. Meanwhile, we combined PMF and HRA models to explore the health risks of TMs in agricultural soils by different pollution sources to determine the priority control factors. Results showed that the average contents of cadmium(Cd), arsenic (As), lead(Pb), chromium(Cr), copper(Cu), nickel(Ni), and zinc(Zn) in the soil were found to be 0.26, 5.93, 27.14, 61.32, 23.81, 32.45, and 78.65 mg/kg, respectively. Spatial analysis and source apportionment analysis revealed that urban and industrial sources, agricultural sources, and natural sources accounted for 33.0%, 27.7%, and 39.3% of TM accumulation in the soil, respectively. In the HRA model based on Monte Carlo simulation, noncarcinogenic risks were deemed negligible(hazard index <1), the carcinogenic risks were at acceptable level(10^(-6)<total carcinogenic risk ≤ 10^(-4)), with higher risks observed for children compared to adults. The relationship between TMs, their sources, and health risks indicated that urban and industrial sources were primarily associated with As, contributing to 75.1% of carcinogenic risks and 55.7% of non-carcinogenic risks, making them the primary control factors. Meanwhile, agricultural sources were primarily linked to Cd and Pb, contributing to 13.1% of carcinogenic risks and 21.8% of non-carcinogenic risks, designating them as secondary control factors.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.52278503。
文摘Coral sandy soils widely exist in coral island reefs and seashores in tropical and subtropical regions.Due to the unique marine depositional environment of coral sandy soils,the engineering characteristics and responses of these soils subjected to monotonic and cyclic loadings have been a subject of intense interest among the geotechnical and earthquake engineering communities.This paper critically reviews the progress of experimental investigations on the undrained behavior of coral sandy soils under monotonic and cyclic loadings over the last three decades.The focus of coverage includes the contractive-dilative behavior,the pattern of excess pore-water pressure(EPWP)generation and the liquefaction mechanism and liquefaction resistance,the small-strain shear modulus and strain-dependent shear modulus and damping,the cyclic softening feature,and the anisotropic characteristics of undrained responses of saturated coral sandy soils.In particular,the advances made in the past decades are reviewed from the following aspects:(1)the characterization of factors that impact the mechanism and patterns of EPWP build-up;(2)the identification of liquefaction triggering in terms of the apparent viscosity and the average flow coefficient;(3)the establishment of the invariable form of strain-based,stress-based,or energy-based EPWP ratio formulas and the unique relationship between the new proxy of liquefaction resistance and the number of cycles required to reach liquefaction;(4)the establishment of the invariable form of the predictive formulas of small strain modulus and strain-dependent shear modulus;and(5)the investigation on the effects of stress-induced anisotropy on liquefaction susceptibility and dynamic deformation characteristics.Insights gained through the critical review of these advances in the past decades offer a perspective for future research to further resolve the fundamental issues concerning the liquefaction mechanism and responses of coral sandy sites subjected to cyclic loadings associated with seismic events in marine environments.
基金The work described in this paper was partially supported by grants from the Research Grant Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,China(Project Nos.HKU 17207518 and R5037-18).
文摘The traditional standard wet sieving method uses steel sieves with aperture?0.063 mm and can only determine the particle size distribution(PSD)of gravel and sand in general soil.This paper extends the traditional method and presents an extended wet sieving method.The extended method uses both the steel sieves and the nylon filter cloth sieves.The apertures of the cloth sieves are smaller than 0.063 mm and equal 0.048 mm,0.038 mm,0.014 mm,0.012 mm,0.0063 mm,0.004 mm,0.003 mm,0.002 mm,and 0.001 mm,respectively.The extended method uses five steps to separate the general soil into many material sub-groups of gravel,sand,silt and clay with known particle size ranges.The complete PSD of the general soil is then calculated from the dry masses of the individual material sub-groups.The extended method is demonstrated with a general soil of completely decomposed granite(CDG)in Hong Kong,China.The silt and clay materials with different particle size ranges are further examined,checked and verified using stereomicroscopic observation,physical and chemical property tests.The results further confirm the correctness of the extended wet sieving method.
