Coupled effects of matric suction and temperature on the compression behaviour of loess

Abstract

Compression behaviour of soils is related to many geotechnical engineering problems e.g. ground subsidence, foundation deformation, embankment failure, etc. So far, research on coupled effects of matric suction and temperature on compression behaviour of soils are very limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the compression behaviour of intact and compacted loess at various matric suctions and temperatures. It is found that for both intact and compacted loess, at various suctions, preconsolidation pressure decreases with increasing temperature (thermal softening). Because the double layer repulsion force R increases with increasing temperature. The thermal softening of preconsolidation pressure at zero suction is more significant than that at suction of 100 kPa. This is likely because more water exists in the soil specimen at a lower suction. Heating-induced decrease of viscosity of water affects particle movement and the yielding of soil skeleton. Moreover, it is found that suction effects on thermal softening of preconsolidation pressure of intact loess is more significant than that of compacted specimen.