Study on vertical permeability regularity and collapsibility of a large thickness loess foundation by in-situ testing

¹ Hohai University, Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, 210098 Nanjing, China
² LEU, Department of Architectural Engineering, 401331 Chongqing, China

^a Corresponding author: hxfen60@163.com

Abstract

In many regions in China there is a wide distribution of dead-weight collapsible loess that experience frequent disasters resulting in enormous losses to national property. Loess collapsibility is the leading cause of disasters in loess areas. Many international scholars are working collaboratively to avoid property losses and human casualties caused by the collapsible loess. Loess collapsibility is closely related to the vertical permeability regularity, so the vertical permeability regularity should be the first critical factor taken into account in studying loess collapsibility. In Lanzhou city, the in-situ soaking test is carried out on an unsaturated natural loess foundation with a thickness of 36.5m, the test pit diameter is 40m, TDR moisture probes are embedded, and the test lasts 282 days. During the test, the vertical migration of water is observed and the temporal and spatial variations of volumetric water content are considered. In the detailed research of the vertical permeability regularity, the relation between permeability regularity and collapsibility are discussed. For shallow layer soil, soil volumetric water content reaches saturation at wetting front, the water flows downward due to gravity and the infiltration rate is larger. For deep layer soil, the moisture will increase because of the upper soil permeability and its own suction, but, due to soil compression caused by the occurrence of the upper soil collapsibility, the infiltration rate is significantly reduced. The temporal and spatial variations of water volumetric content can be used to determine whether a loess collapsible deformation has occurred. The limit permeability depth in this test is 25m, and the limit permeability depth can also be served as the collapsibility evaluation depth of the unsaturated natural Malan loess foundation.