Influence of reinforcement method on the crack characteristic parameters of expansive soil experimental study

Abstract

Abstract The expansive soil slope is mainly characterized by the decline of slope integrity caused by shallow expansive soil cracking and the destruction of internal soil structure, which seriously affects the overall stability of expansive soil slope. To study the effect of the combination of geogrid reinforcement and slope vegetation on inhibiting the development of expansive soil cracks, six groups of test models were made. The natural dry–wet cycle was simulated, and the crack image was binarized by using image processing technology. The crack characteristic parameters such as crack ratio, crack width, and crack length were extracted, and the effect of various reinforcement methods on inhibiting the development of cracks was comprehensively evaluated. The basic situation of the development of crack indexes in each group with the development of multiple dry–wet cycles was obtained, and the fluctuation changes of crack indexes in different stages were different under different reinforcement methods and dry–wet cycles. At the same time, the influence of different reinforcement methods on the crack development of expansive soil is obtained. It is considered that planting vetiver grass + geogrid backpacking has a good effect on inhibiting the crack development of expansive soil.