Investigation of Seepage Behavior and Settlement Deformation Mechanisms in Loess Embankment Foundation Systems in Eastern Gansu Province
The northwestern region of China is characterized by loess soil and seasonal permafrost. Due to the combined effects of its unique climate and precipitation patterns, local roads frequently suffer from issues such as foundation settlement, erosion, and collapse, which pose significant risks to both...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/7/3789 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850212615341473792 |
|---|---|
| author | Wei Wang Wei Li Pengxiang Zhang Lulu Liu |
| author_facet | Wei Wang Wei Li Pengxiang Zhang Lulu Liu |
| author_sort | Wei Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The northwestern region of China is characterized by loess soil and seasonal permafrost. Due to the combined effects of its unique climate and precipitation patterns, local roads frequently suffer from issues such as foundation settlement, erosion, and collapse, which pose significant risks to both road construction and safe operation. This study examines a typical high subgrade in Northwest China, where a scaled laboratory model experiment was conducted. The research investigates the impact of water infiltration at the slope foot, under the dual influences of extreme cold and precipitation, on changes in the internal moisture field and settlement deformation characteristics of both the foundation and subgrade. The results indicate that the variation in moisture content across the section follows an arc-shaped diffusion pattern. Settlement is influenced by both the amount of infiltrated water and cold air, with a noticeable lag effect. A settlement of 0.1 cm is considered the threshold for significant impact, with the minimum observed lag period approaching 4 days. The settlement is concentrated in the slope region, exhibiting a bending failure pattern. Numerical simulations reveal that the cross-sectional settlement distribution forms an inverted “S” shape, and the cumulative moisture content at each monitoring point exhibits a quadratic relationship with the cumulative settlement. The findings of this study provide scientific guidance and technical references for road construction and safe operation in the seasonal permafrost regions of Northwest China. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-407b81a1a4fc40fcab1cd2490523ce28 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-407b81a1a4fc40fcab1cd2490523ce282025-08-20T02:09:18ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-03-01157378910.3390/app15073789Investigation of Seepage Behavior and Settlement Deformation Mechanisms in Loess Embankment Foundation Systems in Eastern Gansu ProvinceWei Wang0Wei Li1Pengxiang Zhang2Lulu Liu3Jinan Huanghe Road and Bridge Construction Group Co., Ltd., Jinan 250099, ChinaJinan Huanghe Road and Bridge Construction Group Co., Ltd., Jinan 250099, ChinaJinan Huanghe Road and Bridge Construction Group Co., Ltd., Jinan 250099, ChinaSchool of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaThe northwestern region of China is characterized by loess soil and seasonal permafrost. Due to the combined effects of its unique climate and precipitation patterns, local roads frequently suffer from issues such as foundation settlement, erosion, and collapse, which pose significant risks to both road construction and safe operation. This study examines a typical high subgrade in Northwest China, where a scaled laboratory model experiment was conducted. The research investigates the impact of water infiltration at the slope foot, under the dual influences of extreme cold and precipitation, on changes in the internal moisture field and settlement deformation characteristics of both the foundation and subgrade. The results indicate that the variation in moisture content across the section follows an arc-shaped diffusion pattern. Settlement is influenced by both the amount of infiltrated water and cold air, with a noticeable lag effect. A settlement of 0.1 cm is considered the threshold for significant impact, with the minimum observed lag period approaching 4 days. The settlement is concentrated in the slope region, exhibiting a bending failure pattern. Numerical simulations reveal that the cross-sectional settlement distribution forms an inverted “S” shape, and the cumulative moisture content at each monitoring point exhibits a quadratic relationship with the cumulative settlement. The findings of this study provide scientific guidance and technical references for road construction and safe operation in the seasonal permafrost regions of Northwest China.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/7/3789loesspermafrostprecipitationsubgradefoundationmoisture field |
| spellingShingle | Wei Wang Wei Li Pengxiang Zhang Lulu Liu Investigation of Seepage Behavior and Settlement Deformation Mechanisms in Loess Embankment Foundation Systems in Eastern Gansu Province Applied Sciences loess permafrost precipitation subgrade foundation moisture field |
| title | Investigation of Seepage Behavior and Settlement Deformation Mechanisms in Loess Embankment Foundation Systems in Eastern Gansu Province |
| title_full | Investigation of Seepage Behavior and Settlement Deformation Mechanisms in Loess Embankment Foundation Systems in Eastern Gansu Province |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of Seepage Behavior and Settlement Deformation Mechanisms in Loess Embankment Foundation Systems in Eastern Gansu Province |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of Seepage Behavior and Settlement Deformation Mechanisms in Loess Embankment Foundation Systems in Eastern Gansu Province |
| title_short | Investigation of Seepage Behavior and Settlement Deformation Mechanisms in Loess Embankment Foundation Systems in Eastern Gansu Province |
| title_sort | investigation of seepage behavior and settlement deformation mechanisms in loess embankment foundation systems in eastern gansu province |
| topic | loess permafrost precipitation subgrade foundation moisture field |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/7/3789 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT weiwang investigationofseepagebehaviorandsettlementdeformationmechanismsinloessembankmentfoundationsystemsineasterngansuprovince AT weili investigationofseepagebehaviorandsettlementdeformationmechanismsinloessembankmentfoundationsystemsineasterngansuprovince AT pengxiangzhang investigationofseepagebehaviorandsettlementdeformationmechanismsinloessembankmentfoundationsystemsineasterngansuprovince AT lululiu investigationofseepagebehaviorandsettlementdeformationmechanismsinloessembankmentfoundationsystemsineasterngansuprovince |