A distributed measurement method for in-situ soil moisture content by using carbon-fiber heated cable

Moisture content is a fundamental physical index that quantifies soil property and is closely associatedwith the hydrological, ecological and engineering behaviors of soil. To measure in-situ soil moisturecontents, a distributed measurement system for in-situ soil moisture content （SM-DTS） is introduced.The system is based on carbon-fiber heated cable （CFHC） technology that has been developed to enhancethe measuring accuracy of in-situ soil moisture content. Using CFHC technique, a temperature characteristicvalue （Tt） can be defined from temperatureetime curves. A relationship among Tt, soil thermalimpedance coefficient and soil moisture content is then established in laboratory. The feasibility of theSM-DTS technology to provide distributed measurements of in-situ soil moisture content is verifiedthrough field tests. The research reported herein indicates that the proposed SM-DTS is capable ofmeasuring in-situ soil moisture content over long distances and large areas.

Effects of dry-wet cycles on three-dimensional pore structure and permeability characteristics of granite residual soil using X-ray micro computed tomography

Due to seasonal climate alterations,the microstructure and permeability of granite residual soil are easily affected by multiple dry-wet cycles.The X-ray micro computed tomography(micro-CT)acted as a nondestructive tool for characterizing the microstructure of soil samples exposed to a range of damage levels induced by dry-wet cycles.Subsequently,the variations of pore distribution and permeability due to drywet cycling effects were revealed based on three-dimensional(3D)pore distribution analysis and seepage simulations.According to the results,granite residual soils could be separated into four different components,namely,pores,clay,quartz,and hematite,from micro-CT images.The reconstructed 3D pore models dynamically demonstrated the expanding and connecting patterns of pore structures during drywet cycles.The values of porosity and connectivity are positively correlated with the number of dry-wet cycles,which were expressed by exponential and linear functions,respectively.The pore volume probability distribution curves of granite residual soil coincide with the χ^(2)distribution curve,which verifies the effectiveness of the assumption of χ^(2)distribution probability.The pore volume distribution curves suggest that the pores in soils were divided into four types based on their volumes,i.e.micropores,mesopores,macropores,and cracks.From a quantitative and visual perspective,considerable small pores are gradually transformed into cracks with a large volume and a high connectivity.Under the action of dry-wet cycles,the number of seepage flow streamlines which contribute to water permeation in seepage simulation increases distinctly,as well as the permeability and hydraulic conductivity.The calculated hydraulic conductivity is comparable with measured ones with an acceptable error margin in general,verifying the accuracy of seepage simulations based on micro-CT results.

Plane strain consolidation of soil layer with anisotropic permeability

This paper presents an alternative analytical technique to study a plane strain consolidation of a poroelastic soil by taking into account the anisotropy of permeability. From the governing equations of a saturated poroelastic soil, the relationship of basic variables for a point of a soil layer is established between the ground surface （z=0） and the depth z in the Laplace-Fourier transform domain. Combined with the boundary conditions, an exact solution is derived for plane strain Biot＇s consolidation of a finite soil layer with anisotropic permeability in the transform domain. Numerical inversions of the Laplace transform and the Fourier transform are adopted to obtain the actual solution in the physical domain. Numerical results of plane strain Biot＇s consolidation for a single soil layer show that the anisotropic of permeability has a great influence on the consolidation behavior of the soils.

The Reduction of the Permeability of a Lateritic Soil through the Application of Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation

Lateritic soils are frequently utilised in tropical areas of the developing world as an engineering material in the construction of rural earth roads, usually in the form of engineered natural surface (ENS) roads. The heavy, seasonal rainfalls common to the tropics results in ENS roads becoming quickly saturated with rainwater, and no longer accessible to motorised transportation. Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) has been successfully used as a treatment process to decrease the permeability of clean, cohesionless sands by studies trying to impede the movement of groundwater, and any pollutants they may contain. In order to see if MICP treatment can also reduce the susceptibility of ENS road lateritic soils to rainwater saturation, this study has treated a Brazilian sample extracted from an ENS road in Espirito do Santo, Brazil, using the MICP bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii contained within a urea-calcium chloride solution inoculum. Investigation, by means of a Rowe cell, of the post-treatment permeability, to untreated control samples, has shown an average decrease in the vertical coefficient of permeability of 83%, from 1.15 × 10-7 m/s for the untreated control samples, to 1.92 × 10-8 m/s in treated samples.

Permeability and setting time of bio-mediated soil under various medium concentrations

The bio-clogging using bacteria can be an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to conventional grouting methods for seepage control.However,it remains unclear to date how the dilute concentration of bacterium and medium during field installation can affect the setting time of bacterium and its correlation with permeability reduction.In this study,the setting time of bacterium and its effectiveness in permeability reduction were addressed through experimental and theoretical investigations.A series of sand column was cultivated using different concentrations of Leuconostoc mesenteroides and culture medium.The distribution and composition of the bacterial product(i.e.dextran)were observed by refractometer,scanning electron microscope(SEM),and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS).Soil permeability was recorded using a constant head test.The results revealed that bacterium was effective to produce dextran at the setting time of about 5 d after installation.This dextran can reduce the permeability of bio-mediated soil by two orders of magnitude,even without culture medium supply.In general,the dextran production decreased proportionally with increase of bacterium and medium concentration.However,at 50%bacterium and medium concentration by weight,it still has a significant influence on permeability reduction with similar setting time,compared to 100%concentration.

Influence of soil density on gas permeability and water retention in soils amended with in-house produced biochar

Biochar has been used as an environment-friendly enhancer to improve the hydraulic properties(e.g.suction and water retention)of soil.However,variations in densities alter the properties of the soil ebiochar mix.Such density variations are observed in agriculture(loosely compacted)and engineering(densely compacted)applications.The influence of biochar amendment on gas permeability of soil has been barely investigated,especially for soil with different densities.The major objective of this study is to investigate the water retention capacity,and gas permeability of biochar-amended soil(BAS)with different biochar contents under varying degree of compaction(DOC)conditions.In-house produced novel biochar was mixed with the soil at different amendment rates(i.e.biochar contents of 0%,5%and 10%).All BAS samples were compacted at three DOCs(65%,80%and 95%)in polyvinyl chloride(PVC)tubes.Each soil column was subjected to dryingewetting cycles,during which soil suction,water content,and gas permeability were measured.A simplified theoretical framework for estimating the void ratio of BAS was proposed.The experimental results reveal that the addition of biochar significantly decreased gas permeability kg as compared with that of bare soil(BS).However,the addition of 5%biochar is found to be optimum in decreasing kg with an increase of DOC(i.e.k_(g,65%)>k_(g,80%)>k_(g,95%))at a relatively low suction range(<200 kPa)because both biochar and compaction treatment reduce the connected pores.

A Review of Test Methods for the Determination of the Permeability Coefficient of Gravelly Soils Used for Embankment Dams

The factors influencing the permeability coefficient of gravelly soils used for the development of embankment dams(core wall)are analyzed.Such factors include(but are not limited to)soil size,anisotropy,density and boundary effects.A review of the literature is conducted and new directions of research are proposed.In such a framework,it is shown that gravelly soil with controlled density and vertical stress should be used to optimize the measurement of the vertical and horizontal permeability coefficients,respectively.

Semi-analytical solutions to one-dimensional consolidation for unsaturated soils with semi-permeable drainage boundary

The semi-analytical solutions to Fredlund and Hasan＇s one-dimensional （1D） consolidation for unsaturated soils with a semi-permeable drainage boundary are pre- seated. Two variables are introduced to transform the two coupled governing equations of pore-water and pore-air pressures into an equivalent set of partial differential equations （PDFs）, which are easily solved by the Laplace transform method. Then, the pore-water pressure, pore-air pressure, and soil settlement are obtained in the Laplace domain. The Crump method is adopted to perform the inverse Laplace transform in order to obtain the semi-analytical solutions in the time domain. It is shown that the proposed solutions are more applicable to various types of boundary conditions and agree well with the existing solutions from the literature. Several numerical examples are provided to investigate the consolidation behavior of an unsaturated single-layer soil with single, double, mixed, and semi-permeable drainage boundaries. The changes in the pore-air and pore-water pres- sures and the soil settlement with the time factor at different values of the semi-permeable drainage boundary parameters are illustrated. In addition, parametric studies are con- ducted on the pore-air and pore-water pressures at different ratios （the air permeability coefficient to the water permeability coefficient） and depths.

The Effect of the Soil Water Holding Capacity and Permeability under Different Patterns of Land Use in the Eastern Qilian Mountains

This study investigated the effect of the soil water holding capacity and permeability under different land use patterns in the Tianzhu alpine region of the Eastern Qilian Mountains,and four land use patterns were selected,namely,natural grassland,rehabilitated land,oats land and perennial grassland. As time went by,different land use patterns imposed significant effects on the water holding capacity power and permeability. The soil bulk density was rehabilitated land(1. 104 g/cm3) > perennial grassland(1.061g/cm3) > oats land(1.011 g/cm3) > natural grassland(0. 781 g/cm3) ; the soil overall porosity was natural grassland(68.196%) > oats land(60.606%) > perennial grassland(58. 93%) > rehabilitated land(57. 5%) ; the natural grassland had the most water holding capacity power and soil steady infiltration rate(681. 966 t/hm 2 and 3. 02 mm/min) ,while the rehabilitated land had the least(575. 005 t/hm 2 and 1. 004 mm/min) . In terms of soil water-holding capacity and permeability,the natural grassland was the best out of these four use patterns while the rehabilitated land was the worst pattern. In other words,both oats land and perennial grassland had better water holding capacity power and permeability than the rehabilitated land.

Evolution features of in-situ permeability of low-maturity shale with the increasing temperature,Cretaceous Nenjiang Formation,northern Songliao Basin,NE China

Temperature-triaxial pressure permeability testing at the axial pressure of 8 MPa and confining pressure of 10 MPa,closed shale system pyrolysis experiment by electrical heating and scanning electron microscopy analysis are used to study the evolution mechanism of in-situ permeability in the direction parallel to bedding of low-maturity shale from Member 2(K_(2)n_(2))of Cretaceous Nenjiang Formation in northern Songliao Basin with mainly Type I kerogen under the effect of temperature.With the increasing temperature,the in-situ permeability presents a peak-valley-peak tendency.The lowest value of in-situ permeability occurs at 375℃.Under the same temperature,the in-situ permeability decreases with the increase of pore pressure.The in-situ permeability evolution of low-maturity shale can be divided into 5 stages:(1)From 25℃to 300℃,thermal cracking and dehydration of clay minerals improve the permeability.However,the value of permeability is less than 0.01×10^(-3)μm^(2).(2)From 300℃to 350℃,organic matter pyrolysis and hydrocarbon expulsion result in mineral intergranular pores and micron pore-fractures,these pores and fractures form an interconnected pore network at limited scale,improving the permeability.But the liquid hydrocarbon,with high content of viscous asphaltene,is more difficult to move under stress and more likely to retain in pores,causing slow rise of the permeability.(3)From 350℃to 375℃,pores are formed by organic matter pyrolysis,but the adsorption swelling of liquid hydrocarbon and additional expansion thermal stress constrained by surrounding stress compress the pore-fracture space,making liquid hydrocarbon difficult to expel and permeability reduce rapidly.(4)From 375℃to 450℃,the interconnected pore network between different mineral particles after organic matter conversion,enlarged pores and transformation of clay minerals promote the permeability to increase constantly even under stress constraints.(5)From 450℃to 500℃,the stable pore system and crossed fracture system in different bedding directions significantly enhance the permeability.The organic matter pyrolysis,pore-fracture structure and surrounding stress in the different stages are the key factors affecting the evolution of in-situ permeability.

Influences of lithology on in-situ stress field in low permeability reservoirs in Bonan Oilfield, Bohai Bay Basin, China

The differences of rock mechanical properties were analyzed based on triaxial compression test in low permeability reservoirs of the Bonan Oilfield. Through the analysis of reservoir mechanics, the influence mechanisms of different mechanical properties of rocks on reservoir in-situ stress were studied. By means of stress ellipse and finite element simulation, the influence rules of different mechanical properties of rocks on in-situ stress field were discussed. For the low permeability reservoirs of the Bonan Oilfield, the coarser rock has a larger Young’s modulus value and a lower Poisson’s ratio. The rock mechanical parameters and stress-strain relationship of sandstone facies and mudstone facies are different. Different rocks have different mechanical properties, which cause extra stress at the lithological contact interface, and the existence of extra stress affects the reservoir in-situ stress. Without considering the influence of structural features on the in-situ stress field, the reservoir in-situ stress is controlled by the magnitude of extra stress and the angle between lithological contact surface and boundary stress.

In-situ stress of coal reservoirs in the Zhengzhuang area of the southern Qinshui Basin and its effects on coalbed methane development

In-situ stress is a critical factor influencing the permeability of coal reservoirs and the production capacity of coalbed methane(CBM)wells.Accurate prediction of in-situ stress and investigation of its influence on coal reservoir permeability and production capacity are significant for CBM development.This study investigated the CBM development zone in the Zhengzhuang area of the Qinshui Basin.According to the low mechanical strength of coal reservoirs,this study derived a calculation model of the in-situ stress of coal reservoirs based on the multi-loop hydraulic fracturing method and analyzed the impacts of initial fractures on the calculated results.Moreover,by combining the data such as the in-situ stress,permeability,and drainage and recovery data of CBM wells,this study revealed the spatial distribution patterns of the current in-situ stress of the coal reservoirs and discussed the impacts of the insitu stress on the permeability and production capacity.The results are as follows.(1)Under given fracturing pressure,longer initial fractures are associated with higher calculated maximum horizontal principal stress values.Therefore,ignoring the effects of the initial fractures will cause the calculated values of the in-situ stress to be less than the actual values.(2)As the burial depth increases,the fracturing pressure,closure pressure,and the maximum and minimum horizontal principal stress of the coal reservoirs in the Zhengzhuang area constantly increase.The average gradients of the maximum and minimum horizontal principal stress are 3.17 MPa/100 m and 2.05 MPa/100 m,respectively.(3)Coal reservoir permeability is significantly controlled by the magnitude and state of the current in-situ stress.The coal reservoir permeability decreases exponentially with an increase in the effective principal stress.Moreover,a low lateral pressure coefficient(less than 1)is associated with minor horizontal compressive effects and high coal reservoir permeability.(4)Under similar conditions,such as resource endowments,CBM well capacity is higher in primary structural coal regions with moderate paleotectonic stress modification,low current in-situ stress,and lateral pressure coefficient of less than 1.

Experimental Analysis of Hydraulic Conductivity for Saturated Granular Soils

Hydraulic conductivity is the ability of a porous media to transfer water through its pore matrix. That is a key parameter for the design and analysis of soil fluid associated structures and issues. This paper presents the test results of the vertical hydraulic conductivity kv carried out on one poorly graded sand and three gap graded gravely sand. It was found that the vertical hydraulic conductivity of saturated soil depends on the grain size distribution curve, on the initial relative density of the soil. Compilation of these current test results and other test results published, shows that the common approaches predict well to some extent the vertical hydraulic conductivity kv for the poorly graded sand materials and underestimate the kv values for gap graded gravely sand materials. Therefore, new approaches are developed for the prediction of the vertical hydraulic conductivity in saturated poorly graded sand and gap graded gravely sand. The derived results from the new approaches lie in the range of the recommended values by (EAU 2012) and (NAVFAC DM 7 1974).

环境化学条件对软土电渗排水影响的试验研究

电渗排水在软土地基加固方面具有较大的应用前景。为研究土体环境化学条件对软黏土电渗排水过程的影响,开展了一系列室内试验,从电渗系数、排水量、排水速率、含水率分布等方面进行了对比分析,深入探讨土体pH值和盐度对电渗排水过程的影响机理。试验结果表明:土体pH值对土体的电渗系数和zeta电位均有明显影响,电渗系数随着pH值的升高而升高,通过测量zeta电位可以准确获取电渗系数;随着土体初始pH值的升高,电渗排水试验后阳极附近土体的含水率逐渐降低,阴极附近土体的含水率逐渐升高;在对较酸性土体的电渗试验中则出现了阴极附近土体排水固结较快的现象,对土体的整体排水过程产生不利影响;随着土体盐度的升高,电渗系数和电渗总排水量降低,能耗增大。低盐度、偏碱性的环境有利于提高电渗加固效果。

考虑多孔介质渗透率变化的宾汉流体渗透注浆扩散模型

渗透注浆是一种广泛应用于岩土多孔介质加固的方法,但已有基于浆液流变方程和平衡方程的研究,侧重分析浆液本身性质如黏度时变性、滤过效应、自身重力等对渗透注浆扩散范围的影响,尚未考虑浆液在孔隙内的流动阻力对多孔介质渗透率的影响,导致现有理论解析结果与试验测试结果相差较大。因此,基于黏性流体的运动方程、连续方程和平衡方程,引入浆液在孔隙内的流动阻力对多孔介质渗透率的影响,推导获得多孔介质渗透率随介质孔隙特性、注浆施工参数和注浆扩散半径的函数解析表达式,据此建立考虑多孔介质渗透率变化的浆液扩散控制方程。与已有理论结果对比表明,考虑浆液流动阻力影响的理论结果更接近试验结果,可以验证该理论方法的有效性。参数分析结果表明:考虑浆液在孔隙内的流动阻力时,岩土多孔介质渗透率随注浆时间的增加呈现先迅速降低后缓慢上升趋势,随注浆压力的增大呈现逐渐下降趋势;对于工程中常见的符合宾汉流体性质的水泥浆液材料,当注浆时间小于5 min时,多孔介质渗透率变化是影响浆液扩散的主控因素,超过7 min后,浆液黏度时变性成为主控因素。研究成果能为岩土多孔介质渗透注浆工程实际中注浆参数选取和质量控制起到良好的理论指导意义。

高速铁路微膨胀泥岩破碎土非饱和渗透特性研究

非饱和渗透系数是非饱和膨胀泥岩土体渗流分析及水-力耦合研究的基础,对工程建设和工程病害预防具有重要意义。以新疆哈密地区微膨胀泥岩破碎土为例,制备4种不同初始干密度重塑土样,采用压力板法和滤纸法试验测量其土-水特征曲线,采用变水头试验测量土样饱和渗透系数;通过自主研制的土柱渗流试验装置进行恒定体积条件下一维土柱入渗试验,探究湿润锋前进法和瞬态剖面法的适用性,以获得不同初始干密度土体的非饱和渗透性曲线,并结合试验值对Childs和Collis-Geroge (CCG)渗透系数预测模型进行修正。结果表明:新疆哈密微膨胀泥岩破碎土的基质吸力范围为1~10^(5)kPa,渗透系数范围为10^(-9)~10^(-4)cm·s^(-1);试验土样初始干密度越大,大孔隙占比越小,阻渗作用越明显;CCG渗透系数预测模型可较好地反映土体渗透性曲线发展趋势,但在量值上随吸力的增加逐渐“远离”土体实测渗透性曲线;修正后的CCG渗透系数预测模型可反映不同初始干密度下土体渗透性曲线的发展规律。

递增式连续降雨条件下典型山区坡面径流产沙水动力学特征

山区复杂的下垫面条件导致了山区小流域水文响应过程的复杂性,山区坡面作为山区小流域水文响应的基本单元,研究其不同下垫面条件下径流产沙水动力特征具有重要意义。为明晰山区坡面不同下垫面条件下径流水沙水动力特征,该研究选用官山河小流域作为研究对象,基于室内模拟递增式连续降雨试验方法,研究了坡度、土层厚度分布和土层底部透水性等山区坡面下垫面特性共同作用下的坡面径流产沙水动力学特征。结果表明:1)连续降雨条件下,雷诺数、水流剪切力和径流功率随着产流时间和雨强增加呈现增加趋势,Darcy-Weisbach阻力系数呈降低趋势。2)雨强增加使雷诺数均值和径流功率均值显著增加(P<0.05),设计雨强60、90、120 mm/h时的雷诺数均值、径流功率均值分别比30 mm/h的雷诺数均值、径流功率均值增加了130%、276%、366%和171%、328%、435%;坡度增加使水流剪切力均值和径流功率均值显著增加(P<0.05),坡度15°、25°的水流剪切力均值分别比坡度5°的增加了135%和187%,坡度15°、25°的径流功率均值分别比坡度5°的均值增加了224%和357%;土层厚度分布对阻力系数均值和土层底部透水的雷诺数均值、径流功率均值有显著影响(P<0.05),土层底部透水性仅对土层厚度分布为上薄下厚的雷诺数均值和水流剪切力均值有显著影响(P<0.05)。3)雨强是影响坡面产流产沙水动力特征的主导因素,对雷诺数的方差贡献率高达83.11%,水流剪切力主要受到雨强和坡度的影响,累计贡献率达67.64%,径流功率主要受到雨强和坡度的影响,累计贡献率达80.58%。在单一雨强条件下,坡度和土层厚度分布是影响水动力参数的主要因素,土层厚度分布和坡度的交互作用、土层底部透水性和土层厚度分布的交互作用对水动力参数也有一定影响。因此,在研究坡面产流产沙规律时,除考虑雨强和坡度外,还应兼顾考虑土层厚度分布和土层底部透水性及其交互作用的影响。该研究结果可为山区坡面复杂下垫面条件下的坡面产流产沙机理提供一定的理论支撑,并为改进山区小流域水文过程分布式模拟提供参数率定依据。

干湿循环作用下原状黄土渗透性及其对土-水特征曲线的影响

为评估干湿循环作用对原状黄土水力特性的劣化效应,对甘肃Q 3黄土进行了4组不同干湿循环路径下的饱和渗透试验与土-水特征测试,分析土体饱和渗透系数和土-水特征曲线随干湿循环次数、循环幅度和下限含水率的变化规律。结果表明:原状黄土饱和渗透系数劣化度与干湿循环次数间关系可采用双曲线函数进行描述,6次循环后劣化度变化趋于稳定;土体饱和渗透系数劣化度随循环幅度增大而线性增大,随下限含水率增大而线性减小。V-G模型对干湿循环下黄土的土-水特征曲线拟合效果良好,模型参数θs、α、n变化幅度较小,而参数θr随循环次数增加呈指数下降趋势。依据试验结果建立了考虑干湿循环3参数的饱和渗透系数劣化模型与土-水特征曲线模型,并对土体非饱和渗透系数进行了预测分析。

白浆土改良对农业生产的可持续性影响

白浆土是我国黑龙江省和吉林省常见的一种低产土壤,其特点包括养分含量低、质地硬、透水效果差等。三江平原作为国家重要商品粮基地,面临着土壤肥力不足、水资源紧缺等挑战。针对白浆土的这些缺点,该文探讨了白浆土改良对农业生产可持续性的影响。通过采用有机肥配施无机肥、覆盖种植等方法,可以有效提高白浆土的肥力和水分保持能力,改善土壤质地,促进作物生长和增产,同时有助于提升农业生产的可持续性,保护土壤生态环境,实现农业生产与环境保护的良性循环。