Experimental study on the effect of freeze-thaw cycles on the shear characteristics of frozen soil-composite geotextile interface

Abstract

The shear characteristics of the soil-geosynthetic interface are the primary factors affecting the load transmission rules. The interfacial shear parameters are affected by cycles of freeze-thaw and alter as a result of the periodic temperature fluctuations. Using an enhanced temperature-controlled direct shear apparatus, this paper investigates the interfacial shear characteristics between silty clay and composite geotextile according to freeze-thaw cycles. Analysis is done on how the interfacial stress-strain relationship, strength, and strength characteristics are affected by the soil moisture content, normal pressure, and test temperature. The results demonstrate that at low freezing temperatures and high moisture contents, the interfacial stress-strain curve is strongly influenced by cycles of freeze-thaw, and that the interfacial shear strength tends to grow initially before decreasing as the number of freeze-thaw cycles increases. The variations in interfacial shear strength correlate to the changes in interfacial friction angle and interfacial cohesion, and the primary element influencing the variation of shear strength is the alteration in interfacial cohesion. With a high soil moisture content initially, the migrating water has greater effect on shear strength during the freeze-thaw cycle. The findings of the significant level research indicate that the moisture content has a significant influence on the shear strength.

Keywords

• Freeze-thaw cycle
• Shear strength
• Interface
• Significance analysis