Normalization characteristics of unsaturated undisturbed Ili loess with
high level of soluble salt contents
Abstract
In order to reveal the mechanical characteristics of the unsaturated
undisturbed Ili loess in westerly region, the isotropic compression
tests controlling suction, the triaxial shrinkage tests controlling net
mean stress and consolidation shear tests controlling net confining
pressure and suction were carried out under different soluble salt
contents. The objective of investigation is to explore the normalized
characteristics of compression curve, soil water characteristic curve
and critical state line. The results show that the ratio of void ratio
to initial void ratio and the ratio of net mean stress to yield net mean
stress are suitable to normalize the compression curves under different
suctions in the isotropic compression test. The soil water
characteristic curves under different net mean stresses in the triaxial
shrinkage test can be normalized by the ratio of water content to
saturated water content and the ratio of suction to air entry value. In
the consolidation shear test controlling constant suction, the
unsaturated critical state lines under different suctions can be
normalized by the corresponding saturated critical state line in the
plane of effective net mean stress and deviator stress. The unsaturated
critical state lines under different suctions in the plane of void ratio
and net mean stress can be normalized by means of degree of gas
saturation and the ratio of unsaturated void ratio to saturated void
ratio under the same effective net mean stress. The results provide
potential benefits for the constructions of large-scale water
conservancy projects in the special area of Central Asia.