Extended wet sieving method for determination of complete particle size distribution of general soils

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.

Microstructure Features and the Macroscopic Acoustic Behavior of Gassy Silt in the Yellow River Delta

The morphological changes in isolated bubbles in gassy silt play a critical role in the microscopic structures between soil particles and bubbles and macroscopic physical properties.Based on X-ray CT scanning experiments under various vertical loads(four levels),self-designed acoustic macro experiments,and a series of formula revisions to the macro-air-bearing silt sound-velocity prediction model,this paper discusses the macro-and micro-scale features of gassy silts from the Yellow River Delta.The samples consisted of different proportions of silt from the Yellow River Delta and porous media,and they were used to form two types of aerosol silts with initial gas contents of 4.23%and 7.67%.The results show that the air bubble content and external load considerably affect the microstructural parameters and acoustic behavior of gassy silt in the Yellow River Delta.The macroscopic sound velocity showed a linear positive correlation with vertical load and relation to microstructural parameters in varying manners and degrees.Based on the traditional Biot-Stoll acoustic model,the gas-phase medium coefficient was introduced for the proper calculation and prediction of the sound velocity of air-bearing silt.The errors of the overall prediction varied between 5.6%and 9.6%.

Threshold friction velocity influenced by soil particle size within the Columbia Plateau, northwestern United States

Wind erosion is a geomorphic process in arid and semi-arid areas and has substantial implications for regional climate and desertification.In the Columbia Plateau of northwestern United States,the emissions from fine particles of loessial soils often contribute to the exceedance of inhalable particulate matter(PM)with an aerodynamic diameter of 10μm or less(PM10)according to the air quality standards.However,little is known about the threshold friction velocity(TFV)for particles of different sizes that comprise these soils.In this study,soil samples of two representative soil types(Warden sandy loam and Ritzville silt loam)collected from the Columbia Plateau were sieved to seven particle size fractions,and an experiment was then conducted to determine the relationship between TFV and particle size fraction.The results revealed that soil particle size significantly affected the initiation of soil movement and TFV;TFV ranged 0.304-0.844 and 0.249-0.739 m/s for different particle size fractions of Ritzville silt loam and Warden sandy loam,respectively.PM10 and total suspended particulates(TSP)emissions from a bed of 63-90μm soil particles were markedly higher for Warden sandy loam than for Ritzville silt loam.Together with the lower TFV of Warden sandy loam,dust emissions from fine particles(<100μm in diameter)of Warden sandy loam thus may be a main contributor to dust in the region's atmosphere,since the PM10 emissions from the soil erosion surfaces and its ensuing suspension within the atmosphere constitute an essential process of soil erosion in the Columbia Plateau.Developing and implementing strategic land management practices on sandy loam soils is therefore necessary to control dust emissions in the Columbia Plateau.

Silting模的一个推广

基于Angeleri Hügel等人提出的silting模的概念,以及Breaz等人对silting模生成的torsion类的研究,给出了n-silting模的定义.称左R模T是n-silting模,如果存在正合列Pn+1→Pn→…→P2→P1→T→0,其中Pi(1≤i≤n+1)为投射模,且Presn(T)=Dσ.n-silting模是silting模的一个推广,1-silting模与silting模是一致的.利用环模理论和同调代数的方法,研究了n-silting模的若干性质和等价刻画,得出当T是n-silting模时,Presn(T)=Gen(T)=Dσ■T^⊥i≥n成立,其中Dσ={X∈R-Mod| HomR(σ,X)是满同态}.并讨论了n-silting模与n-tilting模之间的关系,结果表明,如果存在左R模正合列0→Pn+1^σ→Pn→…→P2→P1→T→0且Dσ■T^⊥i≥n,其中Pi(1≤i≤n+1)为投射模,那么以下说法等价:(1)T是n-silting模;(2)T是n-tilting模.

Experimental Study on Scouring and Silting Deformation of Artificial Beach Under Storm Surge−Wave Coupling

With the increasing construction of artificial beach in coastal areas, it is of practical significance to study the beach surface deformation of artificial beach profile. Previous studies only focus on a single wave dynamic factor, and it is difficult to predict the beach deformation of artificial beach profile under the storm surge-wave co-action. To solve this problem, the cross-section physical model test method was used to study the beach surface deformation of a typical artificial beach profile in Shuangdao Bay, Weihai, Shandong Province, after continuous wave actions till they stabilize. The characteristics of beach surface deformation under the conditions of constant water levels, laddershaped water level combined with corresponding wave elements and storm surge-wave co-action are compared and analyzed. A beach profile model which satisfies the theory of Bruun model is proposed. The test results show that the maximum scour depth of beach under storm surge-wave co-action is smaller and the scour range is obviously larger than that under the condition of constant water levels or ladder-shaped water level. The evaluation of the maximum scour depth by traditional model test tends to be conservative while the evaluation of the scour range is insufficient.The research results can provide scientific reference for designing artificial beaches.

Practical Method Proposed to Estimate Silting’s Rate in Small and Hillside Dams

The construction of small dams and hillside reservoirs is a common practice for dealing with erratic and unevenly distributed rainfalls in arid and semi arid areas. Moreover, these small hydraulics structures are recommended as a solution to adapt to climate change in rural areas. They are fundamental for the sustainability of the water resources. However, these dams are potential sinks for upstream sediment. Therefore, it would be useful to monitor and measure the amount of sediments in small dams because it is necessary to understand siltation and better functioning of these vital structures. This control and these measurements require the application of the bathymetry or topography surveys which is too expensive for the responsible of these small dams. In this context, this paper proposes a simple and low cost method called: Triangulation of the estimated silted level. This method is based on direct measurement of the accessible silted level in dam. This new method is compared with another method based on the initial Elevation-Capacity curve of dam, usually used when the bathymetry is not attainable. The results of both of them have been verified with those of the bathymetry and electrical tomography methods and validated the proposal method as the most approximate. Therefore, this method is recommended as a new direct and simple technique to evaluate the amount of silting in small dams and hillside reservoirs.

Analysis of the Silting Rate in the “Hachef” Dam Situated in Northern Morocco in the Context of Global Change

The Moroccan annual dam silting corresponds to a loss in storage capacity of the reservoirs of about 75 million m3 per year. Land use metamorphosis and the ongoing climate changes are likely to accelerate the process of soil degradation and erosion. In this delicate context, Morocco will have to provide appropriate responses in terms of adaptation and remediation strategies to the degradation of soil and water resources. The objectives of this paper are to characterize the Specific Degradation (SD) of the Tangier basin through the study of the silting of the watershed located upstream the Hachef dam and to analyze the silting rate of the Hachef dam according to the variability of precipitations and the dynamics of the vegetation convent. The adopted approach is based on the analysis of the bathymetric surveys of the Hachef Dam to characterize the SD and the analysis of the silting rate based on the characterization of the spatial and temporal variability of the two key factors of water erosion. The results of processing the bathymetric surveys over a 19-year analysis period (1995-2014) show an annual average total silting of about 11.46 Mm3 and a corresponding SD of about 36.7 t&sdot;ha&minus;1&sdot;yr&minus;1. This study shows the significant influence of the spatial and temporal variability of precipitation and vegetation cover on the silting dynamics of dams.

Sensitivity Analysis of Multi-phase Seepage Parameters Affecting the Clayey Silt Hydrate Reservoir Productivity in the Shenhu Area,South China Sea

Natural gas hydrate(NGH)is an important future resource for the 21st century and a strategic resource with potential for commercial development in the third energy transition.It is of great significance to accurately predict the productivity of hydrate-bearing sediments(HBS).The multi-phase seepage parameters of HBS include permeability,porosity,which is closely related to permeability,and hydrate saturation,which has a direct impact on hydrate content.Existing research has shown that these multi-phase seepage parameters have a great impact on HBS productivity.Permeability directly affects the transmission of pressure-drop and discharge of methane gas,porosity and initial hydrate saturation affect the amount of hydrate decomposition and transmission process of pressure-drop,and also indirectly affect temperature variation of the reservoir.Considering the spatial heterogeneity of multi-phase seepage parameters,a depressurization production model with layered heterogeneity is established based on the clayey silt hydrate reservoir at W11 station in the Shenhu Sea area of the South China Sea.Tough+Hydrate software was used to calculate the production model;the process of gas production and seepage parameter evolution under different multi-phase seepage conditions were obtained.A sensitivity analysis of the parameters affecting the reservoir productivity was conducted so that:(a)a HBS model with layered heterogeneity can better describe the transmission process of pressure and thermal compensation mechanism of hydrate reservoir;(b)considering the multi-phase seepage parameter heterogeneity,the influence degrees of the parameters on HBS productivity were permeability,porosity and initial hydrate saturation,in order from large to small,and the influence of permeability was significantly greater than that of other parameters;(c)the production potential of the clayey silt reservoir should not only be determined by hydrate content or seepage capacity,but also by the comprehensive effect of the two;and(d)time scales need to be considered when studying the effects of changes in multi-phase seepage parameters on HBS productivity.

Strength and deformation behavior of the Yellow River silt under triaxial drained condition considering characteristic states

Currently,the application of the Yellow River silt in subgrade,especially in expressway subgrade,has not been widely promoted.The main reason is that the research on the mechanical characteristics of the Yellow River silt used for subgrade filling is extremely limited.In this study,the static shear test of the Yellow River silt under drained condition was carried out using Global Digital Systems(GDS)triaxial apparatus,and the effects of confining pressure,relative density and shear rate on the strength and deformation behavior of the Yellow River silt were investigated.The cohesive force of the Yellow River silt is low,and the friction angle is the main factor determining the shear strength.Friction angle at phase transformation stateφpt,friction angle at peak stateφps,friction angle at critical stateφcs,were obtained via the observation on the evolution law of mobilized friction angle during the whole shearing process.The friction angles corresponding to three different characteristic states have the following magnitude relationship,namelyφps>φcs>φpt.The strength parameters for low-grade subgrade and highgrade subgrade were chosen to be 29.33°and 33.75°.The critical state line(CSL),envelop of phase transformation(EOP),and envelop of dilatancy(EOD)for three different characteristic states were determined.The critical stress ratio M,the phase transformation stress ratio Mptand the dilatancy stress ratio Mdof the Yellow River silt are 1.199,1.235,1.152,respectively.These results provide a basis for the mechanical analysis of the Yellow River silt subgrades and the subsequent establishment of dynamic constitutive model of the Yellow River silt.

Geotechnical investigation of low-plasticity organic soil treated with nano-calcium carbonate

Soil stabilization using nanomaterials is an emerging research area although,to date,its investigation has mostly been laboratory-based and therefore requires extensive study for transfer to practical field ap-plications.The present study advocates nano-calcium carbonate(NCC)material,a relatively unexplored nanomaterial additive,for stabilization of low-plasticity fine-grained soil having moderate organic content.The plasticity index,compaction,unconfined compressive strength(UCS),compressibility and permeability characteristics of the 0.2%,0.4%,0.6%and 0.8%NCC-treated soil,and untreated soil(as control),were determined,including investigations of the effect of up to 90-d curing on the UCS and permeability properties.In terms of UCS improvement,0.4%NCC addition was identified as the optimum dosage,mobilizing a UCS at 90-d curing of almost twice that for the untreated soil.For treated soil,particle aggregation arising from NCC addition initially produced an increase in the permeability coef-ficient,but its magnitude decreased for increased curing owing to calcium silicate hydrate(CSH)gel formation,although still remaining higher compared to the untreated soil for all dosages and curing periods investigated.Compression index decreased for all NCC-treated soil investigated.SEM micro-graphs indicated the presence of gel patches along with particle aggregation.X-ray diffraction(XRD)results showed the presence of hydration products,such as CSH.Significant increases in UCS are initially attributed to void filling and then because of CSH gel formation with increased curing.

Factors Influencing the Thermal Conductivity of Silt in the Yellow River Delta

The thermal conductivity of marine sediments is an important thermophysical parameter in the study of seafloor heat flow and marine engineering construction.Understanding the effect of thermal conductivity of marine sediments in the environment has a major engineering value and theoretical significance.In this work,a modified test method was used to measure the thermal conductivity of silt in the Yellow River Delta under different void ratios,moisture contents,temperatures,and salinities.Results showed that the thermal conductivity of silt in the Yellow River Delta decreased with the increase in the void ratio and increased with the water content.Compared with sand and clay,silt in the Yellow River Delta was the least affected by the void ratio and moisture content.Under low temperatures,the heat transfer of soil was controlled by the average velocity of the phonons;therefore,the thermal conductivity of silt in the Yellow River Estuary increased with temperature.The thermal conductivity of pore water decreased with increasing salinity.Moreover,certain salinity levels resulted in a phenomenon known as the‘compressing twin electrical layer’,which led to an increase in the contact area between soil particles.With the increase in salinity,the thermal conductivity of silt in the Yellow River Delta experiences an initial decline and a subsequent increase.The proposed thermal conductivity test method is more accurate than the existing technique,and the findings provide a basis for further study on the thermal characteristics of submarine sediments.

Study on Mechanical Properties of High Fine Silty Basalt Fiber Shotcrete Based on Orthogonal Design

In order to improve the comprehensive utilization rate of highfines sand(HFS)produced by the mine,full solid waste shotcrete(HFS-BFRS)was prepared with HFS asfine aggregate in cooperation with basaltfiber(BF).The strength growth characteristics of HFS-BFRS were analyzed.And thefitting equation of compressive strength growth characteristics of HFS-BFRS under the synergistic effect of multiple factors was given.And based on the orthogonal experimental method,the effects on the compressive strength,splitting tensile strength andflex-ural strength of HFS-BFRS under the action of different levels of influencing factors were investigated.The effect of three factors on the mechanical properties of HFS-BFRS,3,and 28 d,respectively,was revealed by choosing the colloidal sand ratio(C/H),basaltfiber volume fraction(BF Vol)and naphthalene high-efficiency water reducing agent(FDN)as the design variables,combined with indoor tests and theoretical analysis.The results show that the sensitivity of the three factors on compressive strength andflexural strength is C/H>FDN>BF Vol,and split-ting tensile strength is BF Vol>FDN>C/H.Finally,thefitting ratio of HFS-BFRS was optimized by the factor index method,and the rationality was verified by thefield test.For thefluidity of HFS-BFRS,the slump can be improved by 139%under the action of 1.2%FDN,which guarantees the pump-ability of HFS-BFRS.

Stabilization of Clay Soil for the Durability of Structures: Case Study of the Soils of the Locality of Zalimé, Commune of Zogbodomey in the Republic of Benin

Structures erected on swelling clay soils are subjected to several stresses which are at the origin of the premature deterioration of the infrastructures. The soils being supports for the works, the improvement of their weak characteristics with cotton fibers will not only increase the bearing capacities of these soils and the resolution of the environmental problem, by eliminating the CO2 produced by the burning of the stems after harvest. The objective of this study is to contribute to the improvement of the characteristics by cotton stalk powder of the swelling clay soils used as the foundation of the infrastructures in order to guarantee their durability. Identification and mechanical parameterization tests were carried out on raw soil samples taken at 1.5 meters deep and on samples improved with cotton stalk powder at different levels (3%, 6% and 10%). The results from the physical tests reveal that the soil studied is very plastic silt. As for the mechanical tests, it appears that by adding 3% cotton stalk powder to dry density which goes from 1.435 t/m3 compared to the control sample with a dry density of 1.50 t/m3;which reflects an improvement in the compaction characteristics of the soil studied. The dry densities are 1.445 t/m3 and 1.29 t/m3 for the samples improved with 6% and 10% cotton stalk powder.

Dynamic Monitoring of the Mud

[Objective] The research aimed to provide basic files and theoretical guidance for constructing sluicing-siltation dam using soil with high clay content soil.[Method] The soils of Dagou basin near Xiwu Village of Baishui County,Shaanxi Province were taken as experimental materials.pvc pipes with same height and diameter were used to construct testing model for dynamically determining settlement,shear strength,wet density of grouting bulk under 2 different grouting speeds(15 cm/d and 25 cm/d).[Result] Under different grouting speeds,general change trend was similar during grouting course.The subsidence,deformation,shear strength and wet density increased with the increase of grouting speed.Five or six days after grouting,daily displacement under 25 cm/d grouting speed was fewer than that under 15 cm/d grouting speed.[Conclusion] The increase of grouting speed could shorten the time for reaching the same subsidence,deformation,shear strength and wet density and increased displacement at the initial stage of grouting,however,with the increase of grouting time,lower grouting bulk was bad for displacement at later grouting period because it was near impermeable layer.

A 2D Mathematical Model for Sediment Transport by Waves and Tidal Currents

In this study, the combined actions of waves and tidal currents in estuarine and coastal areas are considered and a 2D mathematical model for sediment transport by waves and tidal currents has been established in orthogonal curvilinear coordinates. Non-equilibrium transport equations of suspended load and bed load are used in the model. The concept of background concentration is introduced, and the formula of sediment transport capacity of tidal currents for the Oujiang River estuary is obtained. The Dou Guoren formula is employed for the sediment transport capacity of waves. Sediment transport capacity in the form of mud and the intensity of back silting are calculated by use of Luo Zaosen＇ s formula. The calculated tidal stages are in good agreement with the field data, and the calculated velocities and flow directions of 46 vertical lines for 8 cross sections are also in good agreement with the measured data. On such a basis, simulations of back silting after excavation of the waterway with a sand bar under complicated boundary conditions in the navigation channel induced by suspended load, bed load and mud by waves and tidal currents are discussed.

Intergrain contact density indices for granular mixes——Ⅰ: Framework

Mechanical behavior such as stress-strain response, shear strength, resistance to liquefaction, modulus, and shear wave velocity of granular mixes containing coarse and fine grains is dependent on intergrain contact density of the soil. The global void ratio e is a poor index of contact density for such soils. The contact density depends on void ratio, fine grain content （Cv）, size disparity between particles, and gradation among other factors. A simple analysis of a two-sized particle system with large size disparity is used to develop an understanding of the effects of Cv, e, and gradation of coarse and fine grained soils in the soil mix on intergrain contact density. An equivalent intergranular void ratio （ec）oq is introduced as a useful intergrain contact density for soils at fines content of less than a threshold value Crth. Beyond this value, an equivalent interfine void ratio （ef）eq is introduced as a primary intergrain contact density index. At higher values of Cv beyond a limiting value of fine grains content CVL, an interfine void ratio ef is introduced as the primary contact density index. Relevant equivalent relative density indices （Drc）eq and （Drf）eq are also presented. Experimental data show that these new indices correlate well with steady state strength, liquefaction resistance, and shear wave velocities of sands, silty sands, sandy silts, and gravelly sand mixes.

Holocene Yellow Silt Layers and the Paleoclimate Event of 8200 a B.P.in Lop Nur,Xinjiang,NW China

Many yellow silt layers have been identified in the Holocene sediments in the last lake of Lop Nur (playa), Xinjiang, northwestern China. Statistics of drill-hole cores have revealed more than one hundred layers, which exhibit regularity in time sequence. Study has further verified that these yellow silt layers were deposited through eolian processes. The time-frequency distribution diagram shows an obvious peak occurring at about 8200 a B.P., which is consistent with the dry, windy and cold climate event occurring at 8200 a in other places around the world. Therefore, this event is regarded as a response to the global climate change.

Development of Cementitious Materials Utilizing Alkali-activated Yellow River Silt

The possibility of preparing cementitious materials by the alkali-activated method using Yellow River sediment(The second largest river in China)as raw material and the modification effect on different slag addition were investigated.Sodium silicate and calcium hydroxide were used as the activator,and the specimens were prepared by the press molding method.The hydration process,hydration products,pore characteristics,and mechanical properties were investigated using SEM/EDS,FTIR,TG/DTG,XRD,MIP,and uniaxial compressive strength experiments,respectively.The results showed that the compressive strength of the modified yellow river silt-based cementitious material was significantly increased when the water glass dosage was 12 wt%(Ms=1.8)and the slag dosage was 40%,and its 90-day maximum compressive strength could reach 53 MPa.

Evaluation of dynamic characteristics of silt in Yellow River Flood Field after freeze-thaw cycles

Frothing is a main disease of highways in Yellow River Flood Field, due to the loss of dynamic strength of roadbed soils under the couple effects of temperature, salt, and vehicle traffic load. This is strongly linked to the dynamic characteristics of silt in this region. To analyze these couple effects on the dynamic characteristics of silt, a series of tests(i.e., freeze-thaw cycling tests, vibration triaxial tests and ultrasonic wave velocity tests) were conducted and two kinds of silt(i.e., salt-free and 3%-salt silt) were designed. The results indicate that the dynamic shear strength and dynamic modulus decrease with increasing freeze-thaw cycles, while the damping ratio simultaneously increases. Furthermore, compared to salt-free silt, the decrement of dynamic shear strength and dynamic modulus of silt with 3% salt is more significant, but the damping ratio of 3%-salt silt is larger. In ultrasonic wave velocity tests, ultrasonic wave velocity of frozen soil specimens decreases as the number of freeze-thaw cycles increases. Based on the results of ultrasonic wave velocity tests, a preliminary model is proposed to evaluate damage of silt through field measurement ultrasonic data. The study could provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of silty soil highway.

Natural vegetation restoration of Liaodong oak(Quercus liaotungensis Koidz.) forests rapidly increased the content and ratio of inert carbon in soil macroaggregates

The lack of clarity of how natural vegetation restoration influences soil organic carbon(SOC) content and SOC components in soil aggregate fractions limits the understanding of SOC sequestration and turnover in forest ecosystems.The aim of this study was to explore how natural vegetation restoration affects the SOC content and ratio of SOC components in soil macroaggregates(>250 μm), microaggregates(53–250 μm), and silt and clay(<53 μm) fractions in 30-, 60-, 90-and 120-year-old Liaodong oak(Quercus liaotungensis Koidz.) forests, Shaanxi, China in 2015.And the associated effects of biomasses of leaf litter and different sizes of roots(0–0.5, 0.5–1.0, 1.0–2.0 and >2.0 mm diameter) on SOC components were studied too.Results showed that the contents of high activated carbon(HAC), activated carbon(AC) and inert carbon(IC) in the macroaggregates, microaggregates and silt and clay fractions increased with restoration ages.Moreover, IC content in the microaggregates in topsoil(0–20 cm) rapidly increased;peaking in the 90-year-old restored forest, and was 5.74 times higher than AC content.In deep soil(20–80 cm), IC content was 3.58 times that of AC content.Biomasses of 0.5–1.0 mm diameter roots and leaf litter affected the content of aggregate fractions in topsoil, while the biomass of >2.0 mm diameter roots affected the content of aggregate fractions in deep soil.Across the soil profiles, macroaggregates had the highest capacity for HAC sequestration.The effects of restoration ages on soil aggregate fractions and SOC content were less in deep soil than in topsoil.In conclusion, natural vegetation restoration of Liaodong oak forests improved the contents of SOC, especially IC within topsoil and deep soil.The influence of IC on aggregate stability was greater than the other SOC components, and the aggregate stability was significantly affected by the biomasses of litter, 0.5–1.0 mm diameter roots in topsoil and >2.0 mm diameter roots in deep soil.Natural vegetation restoration of Liaodong oak forests promoted SOC sequestration by soil macroaggregates.