Influence of Clay Fraction and Mineral Composition on Unsaturated Characteristics of Cohesive Foundation Soil in Airports

Taking unsaturated clay foundation soil of an airport project in Hefei as the research object, the effects of particle gradation and mineral composition on the unsaturated soil properties were analyzed through two kinds of tests. The results show that there is a good correlation between the residual water content and the clay fraction or silt fraction content in the grading, and the residual water content has a significant positive linear correlation with the clay fraction content, but a negative linear correlation with the silt fraction content. Residual matric suction has a nonlinear correlation with clay fraction or silt fraction content in gradation, which has a significant nonlinear negative correlation with clay fraction content and a positive nonlinear correlation with silt fraction content. The residual water content and the residual matric suction have obvious linear relationship with the content of montmorillonite but have no obvious correlation with the content of illite. The water-storage coefficient of unsaturated airfield foundation soil decreases exponentially with the increase of clay content and montmorillonite content.

Grain-size and microstructure of the loess from closed depressions in the Nałęczów Plateau (East Poland)

<p>The investigation was conducted in the eastern part of the Nałęczów Plateau, a region of the Lublin Upland, in eastern Poland. The loess cover of this region was formed mainly during the last glaciation, and loess accumulation lasted until 15,000–12,000 BP. The undulating loess plateau with numerous oval-shaped closed depressions (CDs) is the main landform in the study area. Particle size distribution and SEM analyses were conducted for loess profiles under the bottoms and on the slopes of 4 CDs. Grain-size distribution characteristics as well as qualitative and quantitative micromorphological characteristics of the the loess forming the bottoms and slopes of the depressions were compared and discussed. It was documented that the differences between the loess forming the bottoms and slopes of the depressions are insignificant in the case of clay fraction content, but are considerable in the case of microstructure characteristics. The differences documented result from the impact of syn- and post-depositional diagenetic processes related mainly to suffosion and hydroconsolidation occurring under the influence of water. A quantitative assessment of the morphological effects of these processes was carried out in the context of the origin of closed depressions. The morphological effect of Holocene diagenetic processes was manifested in the deepening of the initial closed depressions formed previously under the influence of primary morphogenetic processes.</p>

Mineral matter composition of drained floodplain soils in north-eastern Poland

Soils in two river valleys (Rozoga and Omulew) in north-eastern Poland were investigated. The valleys are located on a sandy outwash plain formed during the Vistulian (Weichelian) Glaciation. The soils are drained, used as meadows and classified as Fluvic Umbric Gleysol, Fluvic Mollic Gleysol, and Eutric Fluvic Histic Gleysol (IUSS Working Group WRB 2015). The aim of the study was to identify the composition of mineral matter and to determine the types of clay minerals and intermediate stages of clay minerals by means of the X-ray diffraction (XRD). The studied floodplain soils are rich in organic matter and contain considerable mineral alluvial admixtures. The content of clay fraction (< 2.0 μm) is low (0.02–5.61% of total mineral matter). Higher content of clay fraction was noted in soils with elevated content of organic matter, which can be evidence of simultaneous accumulation of both components. In deeper depressions occurring in river valleys (oxbow lakes), a specific deposit termed silty telmatic mud (16–24% TOC, 50–75% silt, 3.1–5.6% clay fraction content) was accumulated. On the other hand, in shallow depressions, a muddy deposit was accumulated (5.7–7.7% TOC, sandy texture). The main identified clay minerals were smectite, vermiculite, illite and kaolinite as well as variety of mixed-layer clays. Alluvial clay admixture in studied soil formations showed mineralogical similarity to typical floodplain mineral soils (Fluvisols). Mineral fraction of studied soils is mostly of allochthonous origin.

Relationship between consistency parameters and granulation of fen soils

Determination of bearing capacity requires knowledge of the ground strength parameters. The best way to appreciate soil properties is the use of the direct research methods. In the case of less responsible buildings, projected on the simple ground structure, it often seems reasonable to adopt conservative soil parameters without performing a complex analysis. The base for determination the values of the geotechnical parameters is the estimation based on the correlation between the mechanical and geotechnical parameters of soil. It is important not only for the new building design, but also to facilitate the verification of the substrate quality during the execution of the work. This paper presents the relationship between granulation (clay fraction content) and soil consistency parameters (plastic limit, liquid limit, plasticity index and liquidity index). The analyzed values are determined as a result of alluvial ground studies. These soils were consequent upon the accumulation of river. The founded relationships were described by linear equations and were compared with the results presented in the geotechnical literature. These comparisons often show a significant effect of regional ground forming conditions on the parameters of consistency.

Geostatistical analysis of the influence of textural, mineralogical and geochemical parameters on the geotechnical behaviour of the ‘Argilas de Aveiro’ Formation (Portugal)

Textural, mineralogical and chemical parameters of clays belonging to the Upper Cretaceous ‘Argilas de Aveiro’ formation were determined and correlated, using geostatistical analysis, with some relevant geotechnical parameters. The data obtained made it possible to subdivide the region under study into distinctive sectors on the basis of geotechnical behaviour. Clay fraction content and composition control geotechnical parameters such as the expandability and the Atterberg plastic and liquid limits. A positive correlation was found between both expandability and the Atterberg plasticity index values and the total phyllosilicates, smectite, MgO and Al2O3. However, Atterberg plasticity index values were relatively independent of the diverse clay mineral assemblages.

Residual strength of smectite-dominated soils from the Kamenose landslide in Japan

The residual strength of smectite-dominated soils from the main slip surfaces of the Kamenose landslide, Japan, was measured by ring shear test, and the relations of the residual strength to the clay fraction content and clay particle orientation were studied. The residual angles of shearing resistance, [Formula: see text], were estimated assuming that the residual cohesion is zero. The magnitude of the residual angle of shearing resistance was dependent on the <2-μm clay fraction content, CF, and on the effective normal stress, [Formula: see text], because of curved strength lines. At [Formula: see text] equivalent to the overburden pressures, the soils had [Formula: see text] of 6–8°. These residual angles of shearing resistance were fitted on the [Formula: see text] – CF line for sand–bentonite mixtures, and exhibited the sliding shear mode.The orientation of smectite particles on shear surfaces showing slickensides was assessed by X-ray diffraction technique. The orientation of smectite particles was found to reduce the residual strength considerably, and this orientation effect was revealed more clearly at low effective normal stresses. Key words: residual strength, particle orientation, landslide, smectite, shear mode, slip surface, slickenside, clay mineral, physicochemical properties, ring shear test.