Establishing a Luminescence-Based Chronostratigraphy for the Last Glacial-Interglacial Cycle of the Loess-Palaeosol Sequence Achajur (Armenia)

The loess-palaeosol section Achajur is part of the Sevkar loess area in north-eastern Armenia and comprises three prominent pedocomplexes with intercalated loess units, probably spanning at least three glacial-interglacial cycles. With its central position between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, the Sevkar loess area serves as important bridge between loess sections in southeastern Europe and Central Asia. Establishing a numerical chronology of the Achajur loess section enables correlation with other loess-palaeosol sections and a palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the region. In this paper, we focus on the chronology of the last glacial-interglacial cycle using luminescence dating on fine grain (4–11 µm) material. We compare two post-IR-IRSL protocols on polymineral fine grain using different stimulation temperatures, in order to evaluate the influence of fading and potential unbleachable residuals on our samples. For a backup of the younger ages (<50 ka), we also applied a single aliquot protocol on the quartz fine grain fraction. The results indicate that the upper loess unit was deposited during MIS3 and 4, while MIS2 ages are not present. The underlying pedocomplex and loess unit fall into MIS5 and MIS6, respectively. This confirms that the loess was deposited during dry phases and pedocomplexes formed during wetter phases, as is also shown by comparison with other palaeoenvironmental proxies from the area.

Seismic Analysis Method for Underground Structure in Loess Area Based on the Modified Displacement-Based Method

At present, the seismic design research of underground structures in loess areas is lagging behind compared with practical engineering requirements. The selection of seismic calculation methods and parameters does not consider the influences of the special geological conditions in various regions, so their usefulness is limited. Based on the above problems, a modified displacement-based method (DBM) was proposed and its application was compared with the most commonly used methods of analysis (force-based design method, displacement-based design method, detailed equivalent static analysis numerical method, and the full dynamic time-history method). The results were also validated by considering data from shaking table tests conducted on a case study involving the underground Feitian Road subway station in Xi’an. The results show that compared with DBM, the average accuracy of the modified DBM technique is improved by 41.65%. The modified DBM offers good accuracy, simplicity in its model, a rapid analysis time, and easy convergence.

Application of Controllable Splitting Grouting Technology in Loess Foundation Reinforcement

Taking the foundation settlement accident of a large heating boiler foundation in a city in collapsible loess area as an example, controllable splitting grouting can be achieved by controlling the grouting pressure, grouting pipe opening form, grouting volume and grouting method etc., so as to stabilize foundation settlement and improve foundation bearing capacity, for the boiler with large uneven settlement, for boilers with large uneven settlement, quicklime piles are used to jack up the foundation after splitting grouting to stabilize the foundation, the foundation is lifted with quicklime piles after splitting grouting to stabilize the foundation. The results show that the grouting amount of soil is within the design range, the grout splits in the soil several times to form a slurry vein, the settlement is stable after boiler reinforcement, the quicklime method can jack up the foundation and reduce the uneven settlement of the foundation, and the use of controllable splitting grouting can basically eliminate the slight collapsibility grade loess, which provides a new idea for solving the similar problem of uneven settlement of collapsible loess foundation buildings.

Subsidence Monitoring of Fill Area in Yan’an New District Based on Sentinel-1A Time Series Imagery

In recent years, many cities in the Chinese loess plateau (especially in Shanxi province) have encountered ground subsidence problems due to the construction of underground projects and the exploitation of underground resources. With the completion of the world’s largest geotechnical project, called “mountain excavation and city construction,” in a collapsible loess area, the Yan’an city also appeared to have uneven ground subsidence. To obtain the spatial distribution characteristics and the time-series evolution trend of the subsidence, we selected Yan’an New District (YAND) as the specific study area and presented an improved time-series InSAR (TS-InSAR) method for experimental research. Based on 89 Sentinel-1A images collected between December 2017 to December 2020, we conducted comprehensive research and analysis on the spatial and temporal evolution of surface subsidence in YAND. The monitoring results showed that the YAND is relatively stable in general, with deformation rates mainly in the range of −10 to 10 mm/yr. However, three significant subsidence funnels existed in the fill area, with a maximum subsidence rate of 100 mm/yr. From 2017 to 2020, the subsidence funnels enlarged, and their subsidence rates accelerated. Further analysis proved that the main factors induced the severe ground subsidence in the study area, including the compressibility and collapsibility of loess, rapid urban construction, geological environment change, traffic circulation load, and dynamic change of groundwater. The experimental results indicated that the improved TS-InSAR method is adaptive to monitoring uneven subsidence of deep loess area. Moreover, related data and information would provide reference to the large-scale ground deformation monitoring and in similar loess areas.

Analysis of Vertical Load Transfer Mechanism of Assembled Lattice Diaphragm Wall in Collapsible Loess Area

Based on analysis of the formation mechanism and characteristics of the negative friction in collapsible loess areas, this study investigates the load transfer law of a wall-soil system under a vertical load, establishes the vertical bearing model of a lattice diaphragm wall, and analyzes the vertical bearing capacity of an assembled latticed diaphragm wall (ALDW) in a loess area. The factors influencing the vertical bearing characteristics of the ALDW in a loess area are analyzed. The vertical bearing mechanism of the lattice diaphragm wall in the loess area is investigated. The failure modes of the ALDW in the loess area are mainly shear failure of the soil around the wall and failure of the wall-soil interface. In the generation and development of negative friction, there is always a point where the relative displacement of the wall-soil interface is zero at a certain depth below the ground; at this point, the wall and soil are relative to each other. The collapsibility of loess, settlement of the wall and surrounding soil, and rate and method of immersion are the factors affecting the lattice diaphragm wall. The conclusions of this study provide a reference for the design and construction of ALDWs in loess areas.