Simulation of Morphological Development of Soil Cracks in Yuanmou Dry-hot Valley Region, Southwest China

Soil cracking is an important process influencing water and solutes transport in the Yuanmou Dry-hot Valley region of Southwest China. Studying the morphological development of soil cracks helps to further reveal the close relationship between the soil cracking process and water movement in such semi-arid regions. Here we report regular changes on surface morphology of soil cracks with decreasing water in four different soils (Typ-Ustic Ferrisols,Ver-Ustic Ferrisols,Tru-Ustic Vertisols and Typ-Ustic Vertisols) through simulation experiments. Our results indicate the following: 1) Different soils ultimately have different development degrees of soil cracks,according to their various values of crack area density. Soil cracks in Typ-Ustic Ferrisols can only develop to the feeble degree,while those in the other three soils are capable of developing into the intensive degree,and even into the extremely intensive degree. 2) Soil crack complexity,as expressed by the value of the area-weighted mean of crack fractal dimension (AWMFRAC),is found to continuously decrease as a whole through the whole cracking process in all the studied soils. 3) Soil crack connectivity shows a uniform trend in the studied soils,that is to say,connectivity gradually increases with soil crack development.

Selection of Judging Indicators for Surface Morphology of Soil Crack under Different Development Degrees in Yuanmou Arid-Hot Valley Region

Quantification of complicated surface morphology of soil crack is a prerequisite and key to soil crack study. This paper takes soil crack quads in Yuanmou arid-hot valley region as examples, selecting several morphological indicators, and analyzes the soil crack＇s morphological features under various development degrees. By statistic analysis, three quantitative indicators for surface morphology are selected, namely soil crack area density, area weighted mean fractal dimension and connectivity index R, which can not only express the development intensity of soil cracks, but also effectively describe its morphological complexity and connectivity. The research results set a good base for the establishment of soil crack assessment system in Yuanmou arid-hot valley region.

Surface Morphology of Soil Cracks in Yuanmou Dry-hot Valley Region,Southwest China

Surface morphology of soil cracks is one of the important factors influencing the water evaporation rate in cracked soil in Yuanmou Dry-hot Valley Region,Southwest China. Quantitative study of the complicated surface morphology of soil cracks is a prerequisite for further studies of soil-cracking mechanisms. The present paper establishes a quantitative indicator system by application of concepts and methods originating from Fractal Geometry and Network Analysis. These indicators can effectively express the complicated features of soil-crack network structure. Furthermore,a series of values related to soil-crack morphology was obtained by image processing on field photos of soil-crack quads,and gradation criteria for the degree of development of soil cracks were determined. Finally,the changes in values of the morphological indicators under different degrees of development were analyzed in detail. Our results indicate that (1) the degree of development of soil cracks can be divided into five grades,i.e.,feeble development,slight development,medium development,intensive development and extremely intensive development; (2) the values of the indicators change predictably with increasing degree of development of soil cracks. The area density (Dc) increases,and both the area-weighted mean ratio of crack area to perimeter (AWMARP),which reflects the intensity of cracking,and the index r,which is related to the connectivity of a soil crack,grow uniformly (albeit with different forms). AWMRAP increases at a geometric rate while r shows logarithm-mic growth,indicating a gradual increase in theconnectivity of a soil crack. Nevertheless,the area-weighted mean of soil-crack fractal dimension (AWMFRAC) shows a decreasing trend,indicating a gradual decline in the complexity of cracks as area density increases.

Cracking in an expansive soil under freeze–thaw cycles

Expansive soils located in cold regions can easily endure the action of frost heaving and cyclic freezing–thawing. Cracking can also occur in expansive clayey soils under freeze–thaw cycles, of which little attention has been paid on this issue.In this study, laboratory experiment and cracking analysis were performed on an expansive soil. Crack patterns were quantitatively analyzed using the fractal concept. The relationships among crack pattern, water loss, number of freeze–thaw cycles, and fractal dimension were discussed. It was found that crack patterns on the surface exhibit a hierarchical network structure that is fractal at a statistical level. Cracks induced by freeze–thaw cycles are shorter, more irregularly oriented,and slowly evolves from an irregularly rectilinear pattern towards a polygonal or quasi–hexagonal one; water loss, closely related to specimen thickness, plays a significant role in the process of soil cracking; crack development under freeze-thaw cycles are not only attributed to capillary effect, but also to expansion and absorption effects.

Effect of deteriorated microstructures on stress corrosion cracking of X70 pipeline steel in acidic soil environment

In order to investigate stress corrosion cracking （SCC） of X70 pipeline steel and its weld joint area in acidic soil environ- ment in China, two simulating methods were used： one was to obtain bad microstructures in heat affected zone by annealing at 1300 ℃ for 10 min and then, quenching in water; the other was to get different simulating solutions of acidic soil in Yingtan in south- east China. The SCC susceptibilities of X70 pipeline steel before and after quenching in the simulating solutions were analyzed using slow stain rate test （SSRT） and potentiodynamic polarization technique to investigate the SCC electrochemical mechanism of different microstructures further. The results show that SCC appears in the original microstructure and the quenched microstructure as the polarization potential decreases. Hydrogen revolution accelerates SCC of the two tested materials within the range of-850 mV to -1200 mV vs. SCE. Microstructural hardening and grain coarsening also increase SCC. The SCC mechanisms are different, anodic dissolution is the key of causing SCC as the polarization potential is higher than the null current potential, and hydrogen embrittlement will play a more important role to SCC as the polarization potential lower than the null current potential.

Effect of Sprinkler and Border Irrigation on Topsoil Structure in Winter Wheat Field

A two-year experiment was carried out on the effect of sprinkler irrigation on the topsoil structure in a winter wheat field. A border-irrigated field was used as the control group. The total soil porosity, pore size distribution, pore shape distribution, soil cracks and soil compaction were measured. The sprinkler irrigation brought significant changes to the total soil porosity, capillary porosity, air-filled porosity and pore shape of topsoil layers in comparison with the border irrigation. The total porosity and air-filled porosity of the topsoil in the sprinkler irrigation were higher than those in the border irrigation. The changes in the air-filled and elongated pores were the main reasons for the changes in total porosity. The porosities of round and irregular pores in topsoil under sprinkler irrigation were lower than those under border irrigation. Sprinkler irrigation produced smaller soil cracks than border irrigation did, so sprinkler irrigation may restrain the development of macropore flow in comparison with border irrigation. The topsoil was looser under sprinkler irrigation than under border irrigation. According to the conditions of topsoil structure, it is preferable for crops to grow under sprinkler irrigation than under border irrigation.

Mechanisms of hydraulic fracturing in cohesive soil

Hydraulic fracturing in the soil core of earth-rockfill dams is a common problem affecting the safety of the dams. Based on fracture tests, a new criterion for hydraulic fracturing in cohesive soil was suggested. Using this criterion, the mechanisms of hydraulic fracturing in cubic soil specimens were investigated. The results indicate that the propagation of the crack in a cubic specimen under water pressure occurs in a mixed mode I-II if the crack face is not perpendicular to any of the principal stresses, and the crack most likely to propagate is the one that is perpendicular to the minor principal stress and propagates in mode I.

裂隙粘土中MACRO和CRACK-NP模型的比较

为了比较两种裂隙粘土中杀虫剂运移模型:MACRO模型和CRACK-NP模型,引用了英国Brimstone农场的裂隙粘土中杀虫剂运移的数据。模型模拟了两个时间段杀虫剂的运移,即整个冬季的每天和20天内每小时的运移。虽然CRACK-NP模型模拟的结果与引用数据较吻合,但MACRO模型模拟的效果要比CRACK-NP模型更好。在这个试验数据中,虽然可以得到许多的水文学数据(地下水位、排水和地表水流),但是土壤和排水中的杀虫剂浓度的数据比较缺乏,这使得这两个模型只能预测杀虫剂主要的运移时间和量。

SCC of X70 and Its Deteriorated Microstructure in Simulated Acid Soil Environment

In order to study the stress corrosion cracking （SCC） of X70 pipeline steel and its weld joint in acid soil environment of southeast of China, two simulating methods were used here. The one was to obtain the bad microstructures in heat affected zone by annealing at 1300℃ for 10 min and air cooling to room temperature, the other was to get a series of simulating solutions of the acid soil environment. SCC susceptibilities of X70 pipeline steels＇before and after being normalized in the simulated solutions were studied by slow strain rate test （SSRT） and microstructural observation of fracture areas. Potentiodynamic polarization curves were used to study the electrochemical behaviour of different microstructures. SCC does occur to both the as-received material and normalized microstructure after heat treatment as the polarization potential decreased. Hydrogen embrittlement （HE） is indicated occurring to all tested materials at -850 mV （vs SCE） and -1200 mV（vs SCE）. The SCC mechanisms are different within varying potential range. Anodic dissolution is the key cause as polarization potential higher than null current potential, and HE will play a more important role as polarization potential lower than the null current potential.

Improvement of Durum Wheat (<i>Triticum durum</i>) Surface Irrigation in Swelling Soils

This study is targeted to improve surface irrigation performance of durum wheat in swelling soils. For this purpose, furrow and border irrigation trials were carried out and evaluated under different soil water depletion rates, furrow spacing and unitary inlet discharges. Irrigation was triggered whenever the soil water depletion rate reached a predetermined threshold. A comprehensive irrigation evaluation produced hydraulic, agronomic and economic indicators, such as application efficiency, distribution uniformity, crop yield, gross margin and water productivity. Experimental results showed that supplied water depths exceeded soil water deficits, inducing relevant vertical and lateral water losses. Al- though border and furrow irrigation crop yields were virtually tantamount (about 5.5 Mg/ha), furrow irrigation was the system of choice. An irrigation strategy based on a furrow spacing of 150 cm, an inlet discharge of 2 l/s/furrow and a soil water depletion rate of 30% required a gross water depth of 4300 m3/ha/yr and generated an optimum crop yield of 58 qx/ha. In the analyzed range of soil water depletion, the gross margin and water value amounted to 1064 - 1390 Tunisian Dinar per hectare (TD/ha) and 0.39 - 0.44 TD/m3, respectively, for a furrow spacing of 150 cm.

干湿循环作用下剑麻纤维加筋膨胀土的抗裂作用及影响因素

为研究干湿循环作用下纤维加筋膨胀土的抗裂效果,分别开展了素土和剑麻纤维加筋膨胀土的干湿循环试验,并采用图像处理技术提取试样表面裂隙参数,分析了剑麻纤维含量及长度、干湿循环次数、试样含水率对裂隙发育的影响.结果表明:1)剑麻纤维加筋膨胀土具有较好的抗裂性能,且剑麻纤维的掺入对膨胀土的裂隙率和裂隙平均宽度影响较大,相较于素土试样,最优加筋土试样的裂隙率和裂隙平均宽度均比素土试样减小了约1/2.2)纤维长度相同时,随着纤维含量的增大,裂隙率、裂隙总长度、裂隙平均宽度和分形维数均呈先减小后增大的趋势,且纤维含量为0.4%时各参数值最小;纤维含量相同时,纤维长度对各裂隙参数影响不大.3)随着干湿循环次数的增加,加筋土和素土试样裂隙参数均呈逐渐增大趋势,但纤维加筋土裂隙率和裂隙平均宽度的增大幅度均比素土小;从第5次干湿循环开始,各裂隙参数增长趋缓.4)单次脱湿过程中,试样含水率由20%降至10%时,裂隙急剧发育,且素土裂隙的发育对含水率的变化更加敏感,含水率低于10%时,随着含水率的减小,试样裂隙率变小并趋于稳定;相同含水率条件下,剑麻纤维加筋土具有更好的抗裂性能.5)剑麻纤维加筋膨胀土的抗裂机理主要表现在两方面,一方面是剑麻纤维的掺入增大了膨胀土的渗透系数,促进了试样内水分的均匀分布,减小了试样各处的胀缩差异;另一方面纵横交错的剑麻纤维约束了聚集体之间大孔隙的收缩.

Experimental studies on curling development of artificial soils

Soil curling is an important phenomenon associated with volume changes induced by increasing soil suction upon desiccation.The study of soil behaviors associated with drying in soils(e.g.soil shrinkage,desiccation cracks and curling)has received increasing attention over the last few years,which has been mainly driven by the forecast climate change that will warm up our planet.There are significant gaps in the current knowledge related to the factors that control the development of curling deformations in soils.For this,the curling phenomenon is investigated through laboratory desiccation tests on different mixtures of artificial soils.The effects of soil grain size distribution,mineralogy,soil microstructure,and soil water content on the curling deformation are analyzed.Digital photos were taken at regular time intervals during the tests to understand the volume changes in the soil samples during drying.It is found that soil fabric and soil water content have significant effects on curling scenario.It is observed that the percentage of sand particles and the initial water content play a critical role in the development of soil curling.Samples of pure clayey minerals experienced shrinkage without or with minor curling during drying.

Factors Predisposing and Triggering the Phenomenon of Shrinkage-Swelling of Clay Soils in the Urban Center of Diamniadio

The phenomena of shrinkage and swelling of clay induce damage to housing structures every year. Precipitation, climatic changes and drought are the cause of wall cracks due to subsidence or swelling of the supporting soil. This movement alters the balance between the soil and the structures. To explain this defection, the soil is made up of three elements: the solid, the liquid and the gas. Sometimes in a natural way or following a human intervention, one of these elements undergoes an abnormal variation that causes the loss of the balance between land and works. It is in this sense that this article deals on the one hand with the factors of predisposition and triggering of the phenomena of shrinkage-swelling of the clay soils of Diamniadio and on the other hand, the factors of aggravation linked to the lithological heterogeneity and the variation in the thickness of the layers susceptible to shrinkage-swelling. The studies carried out have enabled a deeper understanding of the behavior of expansive soils following their interactions with climate, vegetation, hydrology, hydrogeology, constructions among others, but also the influence of lateral and vertical variations of fine soil facies.

坡度对花岗岩残积土干缩开裂及其对水平入渗的影响

在崩岗侵蚀区边坡表面存在大量浅层裂隙,为探究不同坡度条件下花岗岩残积土干缩开裂特性及其对水平入渗的影响,通过室内入渗与开裂试验,分析了不同坡度下花岗岩残积土的水平入渗过程和开裂特性,以及裂隙对入渗和产流产沙的影响。结果表明:累积入渗量随坡度的增加而增加,而湿润锋运移距离随坡度的增加而减小。坡度的存在使土样在坡顶与试验箱交接处优先产生裂隙,并沿裂隙壁向坡下发展至土样长度的1/3~1/2处,且裂隙与试验箱夹角在25°~55°。坡度对裂隙长度和宽度的开展起促进作用,坡度的存在会降低土壤干缩开裂破碎程度。坡度和裂隙形式都会影响裂隙土壤的产流和产沙率,坡度的增大促进产沙和产流量,平行于入渗方向裂隙冲蚀较慢,与入渗方向呈一定角度的裂隙冲蚀情况则较快,受重力和水流冲蚀,独立的土块会被冲蚀呈“伞”状,然后发生坍塌。

充填型岩溶隧道仰坡滑塌机制及稳定性控制技术——以宜宾巡场至玉和公路下坝隧道出口段为例

为解决充填型岩溶隧道进洞过程中引起的仰坡滑塌问题,利用现场调查和MultiFracS多物理场断裂分析软件,对隧道进洞过程中仰坡体内裂缝发展过程和围岩变形情况进行分析,提出洞口仰坡加固措施并进行效果评价,得出如下结论:1)连续降雨是引起仰坡滑塌的直接原因,随着含水率的增加,碎石土充填物抗剪强度降低,溶腔区位移变化显著且出现微裂隙;当含水率增加至20%时,溶腔区裂缝进一步发展,局部出现开裂,地表滑动位移不断增加。2)隧道进洞施工扰动加速了地表覆盖层与下伏基岩间贯通裂缝的形成,仰坡体呈现整体滑动趋势。基于现场调查和数值分析,采用“缓坡+钢锚管/锚索框架梁”的仰坡防护形式,用注浆钢锚管替代锚杆和部分锚索,能够避免溶腔内碎石土在雨水下渗中产生变形破坏。经现场实测数据验证,加固后的仰坡在隧道二次进洞过程中处于稳定状态,隧道洞内变形和地表沉降均得到了有效控制。

冻融损伤过程中纤维加筋土的抗压性能与裂隙演化

冻融损伤土的微观结构,土中产生微裂隙,宏观上表现为土的力学性能下降。文章完成了石灰固化土和纤维与石灰加筋固化土的冻融试验、无侧限抗压强度试验、CT扫描试验,分析冻融损伤过程中石灰固化土和纤维与石灰加筋固化土的抗压性能与裂隙演化特征,评价纤维对提高土的抗冻融性能的积极作用。结果表明:石灰固化土、纤维与石灰加筋固化土的抗压强度与破坏应变均随冻融次数的增加呈阶段性下降,即降幅较大阶段、降幅较小阶段和强度基本稳定阶段,纤维加筋显著提高了土的抗变形性能;土的压实度越大,纤维加筋提高土的力学性能就越明显;冻融过程中,裂隙主要分布在试样的表面、上部和下部,面裂隙率随扫描层数的增加呈先减小后增大的变化规律;纤维与石灰加筋固化土的体裂隙率、裂隙长度均值、裂隙宽度均值均小于石灰固化土,纤维加筋延缓了裂隙的形成、发展与连通。纤维与石灰加筋固化土的抗压性能与抗冻融性能显著优于石灰固化土,纤维加筋减弱了冻融土的微观结构损伤程度。

裂隙影响下的微润灌水分运移和分布规律

为研究裂隙发育对微润灌水分运移和分布特征的影响规律,进行了室内土箱水分入渗试验.通过人造裂隙方式,设置不同裂隙间距(6,8 cm)和裂隙深度(5,10,15 cm)处理,同时以无裂隙处理(CK)为对照,测定了入渗过程中入渗量变化、湿润体形态演变和入渗结束时水分分布特征.结果表明:裂隙对微润灌水分入渗速率基本无影响,各处理之间累积入渗量随入渗时间变化趋势接近,最终累积入渗量差异不显著.裂隙改变湿润体形态演变和水分分布特征,湿润锋到达裂隙区域后,在裂隙毛管阻隔效应影响下,水分水平运动受到抑制,向上运动得到加强,最终导致湿润体上部呈近似矩形、下部呈近似椭圆,剖面水分分布呈指状特征.裂隙深度对湿润体规则度、湿润锋向上运移距离和灌后水分分布均匀度影响显著,而裂隙间距对其影响不显著.相比CK,裂隙深度15 cm时湿润体分散度约增加了34.5%,湿润锋最终向上运移距离约增加了12.9%,水分分布均匀度约降低27.5%.综合考虑,在微润灌实际应用过程中应控制田间裂隙深度发育,以降低其不利影响.

干湿循环作用下高压实膨胀土及改性土裂隙演化规律及机理研究

干湿循环作用下膨胀土裂隙发育是影响南水北调工程渠坡安全的主要因素之一。为研究不同干湿循环作用下高压实膨胀土及水泥改性土的裂隙演化规律及机理,分别对为20 mm和40 mm高度的渠坡膨胀土及水泥改性土的环刀试样进行了7次室内干湿循环试验。试验结果表明:(1)随着干湿循环次数的增加,高压实膨胀土试样的最终裂隙率和分形维数不断增大并趋于稳定,达到一定的循环次数后,试样高度对裂隙率的影响减弱,而对分形维数的影响增大。(2)高压实水泥改性土在经历7次干湿循环后,试样表面没有出现裂隙,表明水泥可以有效的抑制膨胀土裂隙的发育。(3)在第2~3次干湿循环过程中,试样表面裂隙出现了自愈合现象。随着干湿循环次数的增加,膨胀土试样裂隙起裂时间提前,试样出现了不可逆转的损伤,自愈合现象消失。试样高度越高,试样裂隙的起裂时间越长。(4)由于高压实膨胀土团聚体失水收缩使得其空隙空间增加,加速了水分子的逃逸,导致高压实膨胀土和改性土的失水速率可分为3个阶段:加速率阶段、常速率阶段、减速率阶段。(5)在加速率和常速率阶段,试样高度对失水速率几乎没有影响。在减速率阶段,与40 mm高度试样相比,20 mm高度试样的失水速率降低的更快,进入减速率阶段的时间更早。随着干湿循环次数的增加,试样失水速率明显降低。

考虑毛细与吸附作用的黏土干缩开裂过程离散元模拟

黏土干缩开裂过程中土颗粒间的作用非常复杂,导致难以从颗粒层面对干缩裂缝的形成机理开展定量研究。基于非饱和土中的吸应力曲线,明确区分黏土中的毛细与吸附作用,在此基础上建立考虑黏土颗粒间吸引力随含水率变化的离散元接触模型,开展黏土干缩开裂的数值模拟,并与室内试验结果进行对比。结果表明,数值模拟得到的裂缝形态、裂缝发育历程、土样应变均与室内试验较为吻合,验证了离散元接触模型的可靠性。对模拟结果的进一步分析发现:①在黏土干缩开裂过程中,毛细与吸附作用共同发挥效果。随着含水率的降低,吸附作用的影响逐渐超过毛细作用。在吸附作用占优阶段,模拟土样的土颗粒沿裂缝分布方向的平均位移为最终位移值的73%。②土颗粒间总接触数量随含水率的降低先减少后增加。③在毛细/吸附作用占优阶段,土颗粒间的物理接触力会迅速增加并引起应力集中,土颗粒间接触因此集中断开进而形成裂缝。

黄原胶改良陡坡生态修复基材保水及抗裂特性研究

针对陡坡生态修复基材失水易开裂的问题,利用黄原胶作为土体改良剂,通过室内试验探究黄原胶掺量对黏土体保水及抗开裂特性的影响,并利用MATLAB软件对其开裂特征进行了提取、统计与分析,探讨了黄原胶改良土体的作用机理.研究结果表明,黄原胶掺量的增加抑制了黏土试样在匀速蒸发阶段的平均蒸发速率,延长了稳定蒸发阶段的时间,阻碍了试样主裂隙的宽度和长度的发育;当黄原胶掺量由0%增加至0.4%时,试样平均蒸发速率由2.68 g/h下降至2.11 g/h,裂隙平均长度和宽度分别下降58.1%和73.6%.此外,试样表面的宏观裂隙形态由复杂“X”形向“Y”形转变,相比于素土试样,表面裂隙率由19.9%降低至1.6%.黄原胶在黏土颗粒表面形成一层胶质黏膜,通过包裹、联结颗粒及填充孔隙等作用使土体颗粒间胶结更加紧密,从而改变土体颗粒间水分迁移的路径,能够很好地改良黏土抗蒸发开裂的效果.