Energy flux characteristics of seismic waves at the interface between soil layers with different saturations

Based on the multiphase poroelasticity theory describing the propagation of waves in the unsaturated fluid-saturated porous medium, the reflection and transmission coefficients of the seismic waves at the interface between soil layers with different saturations are obtained. Our unsaturated model consists of a deformable skeleton in which two compressible and viscous fluids (i.e., water and gas) flow in the interstices. Three compressional waves (i.e., P1, P2, and P3 waves) and one shear (i.e., S wave) wave exist in the unsaturated soils. The expressions for the energy ratios of the various reflected and transmitted waves at the interface during the transmission and reflection processes are presented in explicit forms accordingly. At last, numerical computations are performed and the results obtained are respectively depicted graphically. The variation of the energy ratios with the incident angle, wave frequency and saturation degrees of the upper and lower soil layers is illustrated in detail. The calculation results show that the allocation of incident seismic waves at the interface is influenced not only by the angle and frequency of the incident seismic waves, but also by the saturations of the upper and lower soil layers. It is also verified that, at the interface, the sum of energy ratios of the reflected and transmitted waves is approximately equal to unity as was expected. This study is of importance to several fields such as geotechnical engineering, seismology, and geophysics.     

Zinc equilibria in submerged sodic soils as influenced by application of amendments

In a pot culture experiment, the effect of gypsum (50% of soil requirement), pyrites (equivalent to gypsum), farmyard manure (0.5 g per 100g soil) and Zn (10mg Zn kg^–1 soil) on Zn equilibria in Ghabdan and Langrian series of sodic soils was studied. The equilibrium soil solutions collected anaerobically after 1, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 84 days of submergence were analysed for pH, EC, HCO₃ and Zn. Submergence markedly decreased soil solution pH and Zn up to 14 days and thereafter, the former slightly increased and the latter continued to decrease. Addition of amendments decreased soil solution pH in the order gypsum, pyrites and farmyard manure (FYM) and increased Zn concentration in the order FYM, gypsum and pyrites. The values of Zn potential (pZn + 2pOH) were within the range of pKsp for Zn(OH)₂-Zn²⁺ (aq) from 16 to 84 days of submergence in Ghabdan soil and from 9 to 42 days of submergence in Langrian soil, where later it shifted to ZnCO₃-Zn²⁺ (aq) system. Addition of FYM, pyrites and gypsum shortened the period of predominant existence of Zn(OH)₂-Zn²⁺ (aq) system to 40, 30 and 12 days in Ghabdan soil and 30, 20 and 6 days in Langrian soil respectively. After these periods the system was saturated with respect to ZnCO₃-Zn²⁺ (aq) except gypsum treatment where Zn-soil (unknown solid phases) -Zn²⁺ (aq) system controlled the solubility of Zn after 38 and 28 days of submergence of Ghabdan and Langrian soil respectively.     

结构性软土微观结构参数及结构性流变模型

目的为了从微观结构的角度建立软土的结构性流变模型．方法利用扫描电子显微镜，对软土固结流变过程中SEM图片进行图像处理，研究反映软土流变特征的微观参数，分析这些参数的变化规律．结果反映微结构单元体有序性和定向性的概率熵和分维值的变化规律和软土的固结蠕变变形关系密切，由此确立了软土的微观参数与宏观流变力学行为的定量关系，进而建立了含微观参数的结构性软土固结流变本构模型．结论模型检验表明，采用反映软土微结构单元体有序性和定向性的指标而建立的结构性流变模型是可行的．     

土的渗透性预测方法与工程应用

基于长江河口地区沉积物的特点,分析了该区域天然沉积土的渗透性能,得出渗透系数显著偏低的结论。采用孔隙特征预测土的渗透系数的方法,成功预测了长江口北岸天然沉积土的渗透系数,预测得到的渗透系数高出室内渗透试验结果一个数量级以上。这一结果应用于通启高速公路建设,取得了良好的经济和社会效益,具有很高的参考价值。     

Electrokinetic Remediation of Cadmium-Contaminated Clay

Electrokinetic extraction has been demonstrated to be very effective in removing heavy metals from Georgia kaolinite. The relatively high removal efficiency depends on the extremely acidic soil environment generated by the electrokinetic process. However, the efficiency observed in Georgia kaolinite cannot be achieved in soils of high acid/base buffer capacity without enhancement. In this study, the effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to enhance electrokinetic extraction of cadmium from Milwhite kaolinite was examined. The influence of electro-osmotic flow direction on the migration of cadmium, EDTA, and their complexes were also investigated. It was observed that injection of EDTA from the cathode reservoir by a reverse electro-osmotic flow could mobilize the cadmium in the specimen effectively. A less significant mobilization of cadmium was observed when the electro-osmotic flow was directed toward the cathode. However, accumulation of cadmium near the anode was observed regardless of the electro-osmotic flow direction.     

Relationship between the Undrained Shear Strength, Water Content, and Mineralogical Properties of Fine-Grained Soils

The relationship between the undrained shear strength of fine-grained soils and the water content can be described with a nonlinear function in which the type of soil is determined by two parameters. It is well known that these parameters depend mainly on the mineral compositions of soils; these relationships, however, have not yet been investigated. The findings described in this paper define those mineralogical properties of soils which determine the values of both parameters. Experimentally obtained results suggest that the parameters primarily depend on the size of the clay minerals, their quantity in soil composition, and the interlayer water quantity in the expanding clay minerals. As this dependence is well defined, the parameters, and thus the undrained shear strength at different water content, can be defined from knowledge of these mineralogical soil properties.     

Tests During Three Stages of Construction of a Road Bridge with a Flexible Load-Carrying Structure Made of Super Cor Type Steel Corrugated Plates Interacting with Soil

The way in which a new road bridge made of steel corrugated plates Super Cor type was tested during the three stages of its construction is described and the test results are presented. Backfill in construction Stage I and two ballasting vehicles in Stages II and III constituted the loads. The box bridge spans the Bystrzyca Dusznicka River in Polanica Zdroj, Poland. The span’s effective length is 12.27?m and its vertical inside diameter is 3.85?m. The steel span is founded on two reinforced concrete strip foundations. The average values of the displacements and strains (normal stresses) measured in selected points and on selected elements of the steel shell structure were much smaller than the ones computed for the same load. The conclusions drawn from this research can be helpful in determining the interaction between the steel shell and the backfill. Since this type of steel–soil structure is increasingly used in Poland and in the world, the conclusions can be generalized to a whole class of similar bridge designs.     

Appropriate Material Properties for Advective–Diffusive Solute Flux in Membrane Soil

A generalized advective–diffusive equation for describing electrolytic solute transport in fine-grained soil (clay) membranes is presented. Clarification is made between the current theory and the widely cited coupled-flow theory by Yeung and Mitchell. Results of recently published experimental data are evaluated to demonstrate that the effective diffusion coefficient associated with Fick’s first law is not an appropriate independent material property for solute transport considerations in membrane soil. Three independent and experimentally attainable material properties are identified, specifically: osmotic efficiency, membrane diffusion coefficient, and hydraulic conductivity. Simple physical experiments by which these properties may be measured are described.     

Spatial Variability in Soils: High Resolution Assessment with Electrical Needle Probe

The global response of a soil is affected by spatial as well as temporal scales. An electrical needle-size probe is developed to effectively assess one-dimensional spatial variability. The probe is designed for laboratory specimens (needle diameter 1.2–2.2 mm), and it can be scaled for field applications. Design considerations include the tip shape, insertion disturbance, electrochemical effects, corrosion, operating frequency, and electrical resonance. Two calibration methods are presented to determine local soil permittivity and resistivity from the measured complex impedance; the simplified calibration procedure is based on resistance measurements only. The local electrical parameters permit one to infer the soil porosity and the electrolyte conductivity. The attainable spatial resolution depends on the needle diameter; submillimetric resolution is typically achieved in laboratory applications. Reconstituted sand specimens and undisturbed clayey specimens are tested to explore the resolution potential of this probe. The electrical needle probe clearly detects the spatial variability that results from different specimen preparation methods in sands and soil layering from natural formation histories such as those in varved clays.     

Normalizing Behavior of Unsaturated Granular Pavement Materials

One of the important components of a flexible pavement structure is granular material layers. Unsaturated granular pavement materials (UGPMs) in these layers influence stresses and strains throughout the pavement structure, and have a large effect on asphalt concrete fatigue and pavement rutting (two of the primary failure mechanisms for flexible pavements). The behavior of UGPMs is dependent on water content, but this effect has been traditionally difficult to quantify using either empirical or mechanistic methods. This paper presents a practical mechanistic framework for determining the behavior of UGPMs within the range of water contents, densities, and stress states likely to be encountered under field conditions. Both soil suction and generated pore pressures are determined and compared to confinement under typical field loading conditions. The framework utilizes a simple soil suction model that has three density-independent parameters, and can be determined using conventional triaxial equipment that is available in many pavement engineering laboratories.