Modelling rapid non-destructive test using light weight deflectometer on granular soils across different degrees of saturation

This study introduces an advanced finite element model for the light weight deflectometer(LWD),which integrates contact mechanics with fully coupled models.By simulating LWD tests on granular soils at various saturation levels,the model accurately reflects the dependence of the LWD modulus on dry density,water content,and effective stress.This model addresses and overcomes the limitations of previous finite element models for this specific problem.Simultaneously,this research presents the first experimentally validated fully coupled contact impact model.Furthermore,the research provides a comparative assessment of elastoplastic and nonlinear elastic models and contrasts an enriched node-tosegment method(developed in this study)with the more precise mortar technique for contact mechanics.These comparisons reveal unique advantages and challenges for each method.Moreover,the study underscores the importance of careful application of the LWD modulus,emphasising the need for sophisticated tools to interpret soil behaviour accurately.

Laboratory investigation on relationship between degree of saturation, B-value and P-wave velocity

Laboratory tests were performed on Toyoura sand specimens to investigate the relationship between degree of saturation Sr, B-value and P-wave velocity Vp. Different types of pore water （de-aired water or tap water） and pore gas （air or CO2） as well as different magnitudes of back pressure were used to achieve different Sr （or B-value）. The measured relationship between B-value and Vp was not consistent with the theoretical prediction. The measurement shows that the Vp value in the specimen flushed with de-aired water is independent of B-value （or St） and is always around the one in fully saturated condition. However, the Vp value in the specimen flushed with tap water increases with B-value, but the shape of the relationship between Vp and B-value is quite different from the theoretical prediction. The possible explanation for the discrepancy between laboratory measurement and theoretical prediction lies in that the air exists in the water as air bubbles and therefore the pore fluid （air-water mixture） is heterogeneous instead of homogenous assumed in the theoretical prediction.

Determining the degree of saturation of rocks as a function of time:A case study from mountainous area of Turkey

The aim of this study is to scrutinize whether, in terms of saturation, the 48 hour duration suggested by ISRM(International Society for Rock Mechanics) methods and ASTM(American Society for Testing and Materials) standard in rocks is sufficient or not, and to examine how the degree of saturation of rocks may be determined as a function of time. For this purpose, samples from five different rock groups including igneous(andesite, granite, andesitic tuff) and sedimentary(limestone, sandstone) exposed in Gümü?hane city which is from mountainous area of north-eastern Turkey, have been compiled. Measurements were taken on the samples left for saturation under laboratory conditions as a result of which the degree of saturation values at the end of these time periods were determined. Similarly, at the end of 48 hours, the samples were left to dry under atmospheric conditions in the laboratory environment and their time dependent degree of saturation were also calculated at different times. The changes as a function of time in the degree of saturation were then examined mathematically using non-linear, exponential and logarithmic functions. Graphs and equations related with the acquired time-degree of saturation values and the correlation coefficient(r) values for these equalities have indicated a high accordance between time and degree of saturation for the studied rock groups. The applied methodology will be beneficial for determining the degree of saturation based on time for engineering studies that will be carried out in similar lithologies.

Influence of relative compaction and degree of saturation on the deformation characteristics of bentonite under freeze-thaw cycles

Bentonite,consisting of clay minerals of the montmorillonite group,has been widely used as an adsorbent and backfill material in nuclear waste disposal and groundwater remediation.It is challenging to use bentonite as a filling material in cold regions since bentonite is highly sensitive to thermal environmental changes,during which its bulk volume and microstructure change significantly.In this study,a series of one-dimensional and three-dimensional freeze-thaw tests were carried out within a closed system to investigate the influencing factors of the deformation of bentonite under freeze-thaw cycles.Results show that the initial soil water content greatly impacts bentonite's deformation during freeze-thaw cycles.For an initial higher degree of saturation(Sr),the expansion caused by the formation of ice lenses has a greater impact than the shrinkage induced by dehydration,ice-cementation,and so on.Conversely,bentonite tends to shrink at a lower degree of saturation during freezing.And the critical degree of saturation that determines bentonite's behavior of frost heave or frost shrinkage seems to be roughly 0.8.As the number of freeze-thaw cycles rises,initially uncompacted bentonite clay becomes more compacted,and initially compacted bentonite clay remains unchanged.

EFFECT OF ANTHROPOGENIC CO_2 ON THE pH AND THE SATURATION STATES OF CALCITE AND ARAGONITE OF SEAWATER

Growth of phytoplankton, zooplankton and probably most other marine organisms as well, is likely to be affected by the pH of seawater. Growth of calcareous shells and skeletons is less likely to be affect ed by the saturation states of calcite and aragonite but the dissolution is. The increase of CO2 in the oceans due to burning of fossil fuel and clearing of forests is decreasing the pH of seawater and the degress of saturation for calcite and aragonite worldwide. This paper presents the results of the first attempt to estimate the vertical distribution of anthropogenic CO2, and the decreases in pH and the degrees of saturation of calcite and aragonite in seawater near Taiwan. Most ef fects are very small except for the possible dissolution of aragonite on the upper continental slope starting around 2050 AD.

Modelling of the variation of granular base materials resilient modulus with material characteristics and humidity conditions

This study aims to quantify the susceptibility of granular materials used in pavements to changes in moisture content and propose a correlation model to incorporate this susceptibility into seasonal analyses.The fines content and the percentage of fractured coarse aggregates were identified as direct indicators of the resilient modulus susceptibility to changes in water content.The results showed that the percentage of fractured coarse aggregates particles(FR)has a more significant impact on the resilient modulus(Er)of crushed granular materials used in pavement construction than the combined indicator of the fines content and sample volumetrics(nf).Crushed granular materials with a higher percentage of fractured coarse aggregates are relatively insensitive to changes in the degree of saturation,but become more sensitive as the fine fraction porosity decreases.An adjusted model was proposed based on the existing formulation,but considers a complex parameter to describe and adjust the sensitivity of base granular materials to variations in moisture content with respect to fabrication charac-teristics,fines content and volumetric properties.The model shows that the variation of Er values is below10%for fully crushed granular materials.However,it reaches approximately±12%for materials with 75%of crushed coarse aggregates andþ40%and-25%for materials with FR=50%.This model could help select good ag-gregates characteristics and adjust grain-size distribution for environments where significant moisture content variations can occur in the pavement system,such as in the Province of Quebec(Canada).As it is based on pa-rameters that can be easily determined or estimated,it also represents a valuable tool for detailed design and analysis that can consider material characteristics.

Atmospheric Deposition-Carried Pb, Zn, and Cd from a Zinc Smelter and Their Effect on Soil Microorganisms

Dust emissions from smelters, as a major contributor to heavy metal contamination in soils, could severely influence soil quality. Downwind surface soils within 1.5 km of a zinc smelter, which was active for 10 years but ceased in 2000, in Magu Town, Cuizhou Province, China were selected to examine Pb, Zn, and Cd concentrations and their fractionation along a distance gradient from a zinc smelter, and to study the possible effects of Pb, Zn, and Cd accumulation on soil microorganisms by comparing with a reference soil located at a downwind distance of 10 km from the zinc smelter. Soils within 1.5 km of the zinc smelter accumulated high levels of heavy metals Zn （508 mg kg^-1）, Pb （95.6 mg kg^-1）, and Cd （5.98 mg kg^-1） with low ratios of Zn/Cd （59.1-115） and Pb/Cd （12.4-23.4）. Composite pollution indices （CPIs） of surface soils （2.52-15.2） were 3 to 13 times higher than the reference soils. In metal accumulated soils, exchangeable plus carbonate-bound fractions accounted for more than 10% of the total Zn, Pb, and Cd. The saturation degree of metals （SDM） in soils within 1.5 km of the smelter （averaging 1.25） was six times higher than that of the reference soils （0.209）. A smaller soil microbial biomass was found more frequently in metal accumulated soils （85.1-438 μg C g^-1） than in reference soils （497 μg C g^-1）, and a negative correlation （P 〈 0.01） of soil microbial biomass carbon to organic carbon ratio （Cmic/Corg） with SDM was observed. Microbial consumption of carbon sources was more rapid in contaminated soils than in reference soils, and a shift in the substrate utilization pattern was apparent and was negatively correlated with SDM （R = -0.773, P 〈 0.01）. Consequently, dust deposited Pb, Zn, and Cd in soils from zinc smelting were readily mobilized, and were detrimental to soil quality mainly in respect of microbial biomass .

Relationship of Resistivity with Water Content and Fissures of Unsaturated Expansive Soils

The development of fissures in expansive soils has a great effect on the stability of slope. Of the three phases of soils,the gas phase and solid phase are relatively insulated,so the average resistivity of soils can be calculated from the resistivity of the liquid phase. On this basis,the two-part model of resistivity changing with the water saturation of the expansive soil can be deduced. A 2-D resistance grid model is established based on simulating the resistance of ver-tically developed fissures. Variation in measured resistance of vertically developed fissures at different positions can be calculated from this model. Fissure development can be inversely determined from the variation in the measured resis-tance. Finally,the model is verified by an indoor resistivity test for remolded soil samples,indicating that the test result agrees well with that of the model established.

Effect of curing, capillary action, and groundwater level increment on geotechnical properties of lime concrete: Experimental and prediction studies

Lime concrete and lime treatment are two attractive techniques for geotechnical engineers.However,researches have rarely been carried out to study the effects of moisture and capillary action due to increasing groundwater level on geotechnical properties of lime concrete.The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of curing time and degree of saturation on some of geotechnical properties of lime concrete such as unconfined compressive strength(UCS),secant modulus(ES),failure strain,brittleness index(IB),and deformability index(ID) using unconfined compression tests.First of all,geotechnical and chemical properties of used materials were determined.After curing times of 14 d,28 d,45 d,and 60 d in laboratory condition,the specimens were exposed to saturation levels ranging from 0 to 100%.The results showed that the moisture and curing time have significant effects on the properties of lime concrete.Based on the results of scanning electron micrograph(SEM) test,it was observed that the specimen was characterized by a rather well-structured matrix since both the filling of a large proportion of the coarse-grained soil voids by clay and the pozzolanic activity of lime led to retaining less pore water in the specimen,increasing the UCS and ES,and consequently resisting against swelling and shrinkage of the clay soil.Moreover,due to the pozzolanic reactions and reduction of water,by increasing the curing time and decreasing the degrees of saturation,UCS,ES,and IBincreased,and IDdecreased.Based on the experimental results,a phenomenological model was used to develop equations for predicting the properties in relation to the ratio of degree of saturation/curing time.The results showed that there was a good correlation(almost R2> 90%) between the measured parameters and the estimated ones given by the predicted equations.

Non-mechanical behaviors of soft clay in two-dimensional electro-osmotic consolidation

To investigate the soil behaviors in a direct current field on both spatial and temporal scales, a 1: 5 scale model test was conducted in laboratory to simulate the two-dimensional (2D) electro-osmotic consolidation of soft clay foundation. Volume of drainage, intensity, voltage, water content and pH value of water collected in the cathodes were monitored. The pH values of soil and the mass of anodes were measured before and after the test. The test results indicate that the unsaturated state, resultant from fissures induced by the differences in water contents, is favorable to dynamic compaction of soil during electro-osmotic drainage. The results also demonstrate that water content, degree of saturation and electric potential distributions can be used to deduce the electro-osmotic drainage process. Water content of soil decreases first near electrodes, while keeps nearly constant in the center of the model. The area with constant water content is larger than half of the sample surface. Moving anodes towards cathodes by about one third of the electrode spacing is effective to improve the treatment effect after electro-osmosis stops due to the large resistance. Moreover, it is observed that during electro-osmosis, the corrosion rate of anodes becomes smaller, while the variation in pH values of soil near anodes becomes larger.

Simulation of coupled flowing-reaction-deformation with mass transfer in heap leaching processes

Governing equations for a fully coupled flowing-reaction-deformation behavior with mass transfer in heap leaching are developed. The model equations are solved using an explicit finite difference method under the conditions of invariable application rate and constant hydraulic head. The distribution of the degree of the saturation, as well as the distributions of the concentration of the reagent and the solute is given. A cubic relationship between the mineral recovery and the leaching duration is obtained based on the numerical results. The relationship can be used to predict the recovery percentage of the valuable metal.

Soil-water characteristics of Gaomiaozi bentonite by vapour equilibrium technique

Soil-water characteristics of Gaomiaozi(GMZ)Ca-bentonite at high suctions(3–287MPa)are measured by vapour equilibrium technique.The soil-water retention curve(SWRC)of samples with the same initial compaction states is obtained in drying and wetting process.At high suctions,the hysteresis behaviour is not obvious in relationship between water content and suction,while the opposite holds between degree of saturation and suction.The suction variation can change its water retention behaviour and void ratio.Moreover,changes of void ratio can bring about changes in degree of saturation.Therefore,the total change in degree of saturation includes changes caused by suction and that by void ratio.In the space of degree of saturation and suction,the SWRC at constant void ratio shifts to the direction of higher suctions with decreasing void ratio.However,the relationship between water content and suction is less affected by changes of void ratio.The degree of saturation decreases approximately linearly with increasing void ratio at a constant suction.Moreover,the slope of the line decreases with increasing suction and they show an approximately linear relationship in semi-logarithmical scale.From this linear relationship,the variation of degree of saturation caused by the change in void ratio can be obtained.Correspondingly,SWRC at a constant void ratio can be determined from SWRC at different void ratios.

Influential factors of loess liquefaction and pore pressure development

The liquefaction of loess under dynamic loading is studied experimentally with a dynamic triaxial test system. The effects of over-consolidation ratio (OCR), saturation degree and the frequency of dynamic loading upon loess liquefaction are investigated. The development of pore pressure within loess samples is also discussed. Based on the experimental results, the empirical relationship between pore pressure ratio and loading cycle number ratio is established for normal consolidated saturated loess.

Strength prediction model for water-bearing sandstone based on nearinfrared spectroscopy

The strength of water-bearing rock cannot be obtained in real time and by nondestructive experiments,which is an issue at cultural relics protection sites such as grotto temples.To solve this problem,we conducted a near-infrared spectrum acquisition experiment in the field and laboratory uniaxial compression strength tests on sandstone that had different water saturation levels.The correlations between the peak height and peak area of the nearinfrared absorption bands of the water-bearing sandstone and uniaxial compressive strength were analyzed.On this basis,a strength prediction model for water-bearing sandstone was established using the long short-term memory full convolutional network(LSTM-FCN)method.Subsequently,a field engineering test was carried out.The results showed that:(1)The sandstone samples had four distinct characteristic absorption peaks at 1400,1900,2200,and 2325 nm.The peak height and peak area of the absorption bands near 1400 nm and 1900 nm had a negative correlation with uniaxial compressive strength.The peak height and peak area of the absorption bands near 2200 nm and 2325 nm had nonlinear positive correlations with uniaxial compressive strength.(2)The LSTM-FCN method was used to establish a strength prediction model for water-bearing sandstone based on near-infrared spectroscopy,and the model achieved an accuracy of up to 97.52%.(3)The prediction model was used to realize non-destructive,quantitative,and real-time determination of uniaxial compressive strength;this represents a new method for the non-destructive testing of grotto rock mass at sites of cultural relics protection.

Influence of specimen uniformity on mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soil

Pressure plate instrument is employed during drying, and unconfined compressive strength test is performed on the unsaturated specimen. Curves of shear force versus shear displacement, and curves of saturation degree versus time are investigated. The results show that the specimens with similar curves of saturation degree versus time have nearly identical mechanical behavior. In particular, the uniform specimens should be chosen within the lower equilibrium saturation degree because steady test results are presented. Further, the conclusion is verified by the repeated test. Thus, the method for distinguishing the uniform unsaturated specimen is obtained. In the light of the method, an improved test process is proposed. The uniform specimens should be chosen by this method under the specific matric suction, and then shear tests are carried out on the chosen unsaturated specimen. Namely, initial value of unsaturated soil is not zero matric suction but a specific suction.

Prediction of elastic and acoustic behaviors of calcarenite used for construction of historical monuments of Rabat, Morocco

Natural materials(e.g. rocks and soils) are porous media, whose microstructures present a wide diversity.They generally consist of a heterogeneous solid phase and a porous phase which may be fully or partially saturated with one or more fluids. The prediction of elastic and acoustic properties of porous materials is very important in many fields, such as physics of rocks, reservoir geophysics, civil engineering, construction field and study of the behavior of historical monuments. The aim of this work is to predict the elastic and acoustic behaviors of isotropic porous materials of a solid matrix containing dry, saturated and partially saturated spherical pores. For this, a homogenization technique based on the Morie Tanaka model is presented to connect the elastic and acoustic properties to porosity and degree of water saturation. Non-destructive ultrasonic technique is used to determine the elastic properties from measurements of P-wave velocities. The results obtained show the influence of porosity and degree of water saturation on the effective properties. The various predictions of Morie Tanaka model are then compared with experimental results for the elastic and acoustic properties of calcarenite.

How rock samples can be representative of in situ condition:A case study of Callovo-Oxfordian claystones

Within the framework of feasibility studies for a reversible, deep geological repository of high-and intermediate-level long-lived radioactive waste(HLW, IL-LLW), the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency(Andra) is investigating the Callovo-Oxfordian(COx) formation near Bure(northeast part of France) as a potential host rock for the repository. The hydro-mechanical(HM) behaviour is an important issue to design and optimise different components of the disposal such as shaft, ramp, drift,and waste package disposal facilities. Over the past 20 years, a large number of laboratory experiments have been carried out to characterise and understand the HM behaviours of COx claystones. At the beginning, samples came from deep boreholes drilled at the ground surface with oil base mud. From2000 onwards, with the launch of the construction of the Meuse/Haute-Marne Underground Research Laboratory(MHM URL), most samples have been extracted from a large number of air drilled boreholes in the URL. In parallel, various constitutive models have been developed for modelling. The thermohydro-mechanical(THM) behaviours of the COx claystones were investigated under different repository conditions. Core samples are subjected to a complex HM loading path before testing, due to drilling, conditioning and preparation. Various kinds of effects on the characteristics of the claystones are highlighted and discussed, and the procedures for core extraction and packaging as well as a systematic sample preparation protocol are proposed in order to minimise the uncertainties on test results. The representativeness of the test results is also addressed with regard to the in situ rock mass.

Experimental study on expansion and contraction of unsaturated porous asphalt mixture exposed to freeze-thaw cycles

The expansion and contraction of an open-graded friction course(OGFC)with a nominal maximum aggregate size of 13.2 mm(OGFC-13)with three air void contents(AVCs)and six saturation degrees(SDs)exposed to freeze-thaw(FT)cycles were measured using strain gauges.Cantabro tests were conducted on OGFC-13 specimens before and after FT cycles to evaluate the degradation of raveling resistance.The effects of SD,AVC,and the number of FT cycles on the expansion and contraction of OGFC-13 and degradation of raveling resistance were analyzed.Results show that OGFC with low water saturation will contract to stability during the freezing process,whereas fully saturated OGFC will contract first and then expand to be stable.OGFC with a medium saturation experienced three stages,namely,contraction,expansion,and contraction,during the freezing process.For the OGFC with a low SD,the decrease in the void content can effectively reduce the low temperature shrinkage.By contrast,for the OGFC with a high SD,lower void content produces more temperature shrinkage at the beginning of freezing and less expansion at the end of freezing.The decreases in SD and AVC can effectively improve the raveling resistance of OGFCs exposed to FT cycles.

Phosphate and Nitrate Release from Mucky Mineral Soils

High-organic (mucky) mineral soils make a small proportion of the Canadian agricultural land but are highly productive, especially for organic farming. Although these high-quality soils may release large amounts of nitrate and phosphate to the environment, there is yet no reliable agro-environmental indicator for managing N and P compared to the adjacent mineral and organic soils. Our objective was to quantify the N mineralization and P environmental risks of mucky mineral soils. Nine Canadian soil series (eight Orthic Humic Gleysols and one Terric Humisol with three variants) were analyzed for texture, pH(CaCl2), total C and N, oxalate and Mehlich-III (M-III) extractable P, Al and Fe, and water extractable P (Pw). Soil texture varied from loamy sand to heavy clay, organic carbon (OC) content ranged from 14 to 392 g·OC·kg-1, total N from 1.21 to 16.38 g·N·kg-1, and degree of P saturation (DPSM-III) as molar (P/[Al + γFe])M-III percentage between 0.3% and 11.3%. After 100 d of incubation, soils released 31 to 340 mg·N·kg-1. The N mineralization rate was closely correlated to organic matter content (r = 0.91, p Sandy to loamy soils released 1.2 - 1.8 kg·N·ha-1·d-1 compared to 1.6 - 2.4 kg·N·ha-1·d-1 for clayey soils, 2.0 - 2.8 kg·N·ha-1·d-1 for mucky clayey soils and 2.6 - 2.7 kg·N·ha-1·d-1 for Humisol. For (P/[Al + 3Fe])M-III ratios of mucky clayey soils below 4.5%, water-extractable P did not exceed threshold of 9.7 mg Pw L-1. Mucky clayey soils could be managed for N similarly to Humisol and for P with (P/[Al + 3Fe])M-III percentage not exceeding 4.5%.

Experimental and Modeling Study of Forest Fire Effect on Soil Thermal Conductivity

An understanding of soil thermal conductivity after a wildfire or controlled burn is important to land management and post-fire recovery efforts. Although soil thermal conductivity has been well studied for non-fire heated soils, comprehensive data that evaluate the long-term effect of extreme heating from a fire on the soil thermal conductivity are limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term impact of fire on the effective thermal conductivity of soils by directly comparing fire-heated and no-fire control soils through a series of laboratory studies. The thermal conductivity was measured for ten soil samples from two sites within the Manitou Experimental Forest, Colorado, USA, for a range of water contents from saturation to the residual degree of saturation. The thermal conductivity measured was compared with independent estimates made using three empirical models from literature, including the Campbell et al. （1994）, CSt~ and Konrad （2005）, and Massman et al. （2008） models. Results demonstrate that for the test soils studied, the thermal conductivity of the fire-heated soils was slightly lower than that of the control soils for all observed water contents. Modeling results show that the Campbell et al. （1994） model gave the best agreement over the full range of water contents when proper fitting parameters were employed. Further studies are needed to evaluate the significance of including the influence of fire burn on the thermal properties of soils in modeling studies.