Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Freeze–Thaw-Induced Mechanical Degradation in the Coarse-Grained Soil of the Southeastern Qinghai–Xizang Plateau
To investigate the effects of freeze–thaw (FT) cycles on the mechanical properties of coarse-grained soil in southeastern Xizang under different moisture contents, this study focuses on coarse-grained soil from a large landslide deposit in Linzhi City, Xizang. FT cycle tests, triaxial shear tests, a...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Huan Niu Peiqing Wang Liang Chen Ding Sang Chao Li Congyou Shi Wengang Zhang |
| author_facet | Huan Niu Peiqing Wang Liang Chen Ding Sang Chao Li Congyou Shi Wengang Zhang |
| author_sort | Huan Niu |
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| description | To investigate the effects of freeze–thaw (FT) cycles on the mechanical properties of coarse-grained soil in southeastern Xizang under different moisture contents, this study focuses on coarse-grained soil from a large landslide deposit in Linzhi City, Xizang. FT cycle tests, triaxial shear tests, and numerical simulations were employed to systematically examine the comprehensive impact of varying FT cycles, moisture content, and confining pressure on the soil’s mechanical characteristics. The results show that FT cycles significantly affect the stress–strain behavior of coarse-grained soil in southeastern Xizang. The degree of strain softening increased from approximately 11.6% initially to 31.2% after 15 FT cycles, with shear strength decreasing by an average of 31.8%. Specifically, cohesion decreased by 38% to 55% after 0 to 15 FT cycles, and the internal friction angle decreased by approximately 29% to 32%. Additionally, higher moisture content led to more pronounced strain softening and strength degradation, while increased confining pressure effectively mitigated these deteriorative effects. Numerical simulation results indicated that as moisture content increased from 7.6% to 11.6%, the number of FT cycles required to reach the critical instability state decreased from approximately 150 to 106, and finally to only 15, with the maximum equivalent plastic strain increasing from 0.20 to 2.47. The findings of this study provide key mechanical parameters for understanding the formation and evolution of FT landslide disasters in southeastern Xizang and lay a scientific foundation for the assessment and long-term prevention of cold-region geological hazards. |
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| institution | DOAJ |
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| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-7f84d5d45b9e4d94ba63daf5a17350ed2025-08-20T02:58:43ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-04-01159490010.3390/app15094900Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Freeze–Thaw-Induced Mechanical Degradation in the Coarse-Grained Soil of the Southeastern Qinghai–Xizang PlateauHuan Niu0Peiqing Wang1Liang Chen2Ding Sang3Chao Li4Congyou Shi5Wengang Zhang6College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Xizang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, ChinaCollege of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Xizang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, ChinaCollege of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Xizang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, ChinaCollege of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Xizang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, ChinaCollege of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Xizang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, ChinaCollege of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Xizang Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, ChinaTo investigate the effects of freeze–thaw (FT) cycles on the mechanical properties of coarse-grained soil in southeastern Xizang under different moisture contents, this study focuses on coarse-grained soil from a large landslide deposit in Linzhi City, Xizang. FT cycle tests, triaxial shear tests, and numerical simulations were employed to systematically examine the comprehensive impact of varying FT cycles, moisture content, and confining pressure on the soil’s mechanical characteristics. The results show that FT cycles significantly affect the stress–strain behavior of coarse-grained soil in southeastern Xizang. The degree of strain softening increased from approximately 11.6% initially to 31.2% after 15 FT cycles, with shear strength decreasing by an average of 31.8%. Specifically, cohesion decreased by 38% to 55% after 0 to 15 FT cycles, and the internal friction angle decreased by approximately 29% to 32%. Additionally, higher moisture content led to more pronounced strain softening and strength degradation, while increased confining pressure effectively mitigated these deteriorative effects. Numerical simulation results indicated that as moisture content increased from 7.6% to 11.6%, the number of FT cycles required to reach the critical instability state decreased from approximately 150 to 106, and finally to only 15, with the maximum equivalent plastic strain increasing from 0.20 to 2.47. The findings of this study provide key mechanical parameters for understanding the formation and evolution of FT landslide disasters in southeastern Xizang and lay a scientific foundation for the assessment and long-term prevention of cold-region geological hazards.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4900coarse-grained soil in southeastern Xizangfreeze–thaw cycletriaxial testshear strengthCOMSOL Multiphysics |
| spellingShingle | Huan Niu Peiqing Wang Liang Chen Ding Sang Chao Li Congyou Shi Wengang Zhang Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Freeze–Thaw-Induced Mechanical Degradation in the Coarse-Grained Soil of the Southeastern Qinghai–Xizang Plateau Applied Sciences coarse-grained soil in southeastern Xizang freeze–thaw cycle triaxial test shear strength COMSOL Multiphysics |
| title | Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Freeze–Thaw-Induced Mechanical Degradation in the Coarse-Grained Soil of the Southeastern Qinghai–Xizang Plateau |
| title_full | Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Freeze–Thaw-Induced Mechanical Degradation in the Coarse-Grained Soil of the Southeastern Qinghai–Xizang Plateau |
| title_fullStr | Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Freeze–Thaw-Induced Mechanical Degradation in the Coarse-Grained Soil of the Southeastern Qinghai–Xizang Plateau |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Freeze–Thaw-Induced Mechanical Degradation in the Coarse-Grained Soil of the Southeastern Qinghai–Xizang Plateau |
| title_short | Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Freeze–Thaw-Induced Mechanical Degradation in the Coarse-Grained Soil of the Southeastern Qinghai–Xizang Plateau |
| title_sort | experimental and numerical analysis of freeze thaw induced mechanical degradation in the coarse grained soil of the southeastern qinghai xizang plateau |
| topic | coarse-grained soil in southeastern Xizang freeze–thaw cycle triaxial test shear strength COMSOL Multiphysics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4900 |
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