Investigation of the microscopic properties of natural structured clay
Conducting quantitative research on the microstructure of soft clay can reveal the essence of its soil mechanical behavior, which is of important practical significance for geological disaster risk assessment and prevention. To quantitatively investigate the microscopic properties of natural structu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1312326/full |
| _version_ | 1827397820195274752 |
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| author | Di Ning Qingshan Ma Weiya Ge Zefei Shao Ting Lei Huaixue Xing |
| author_facet | Di Ning Qingshan Ma Weiya Ge Zefei Shao Ting Lei Huaixue Xing |
| author_sort | Di Ning |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Conducting quantitative research on the microstructure of soft clay can reveal the essence of its soil mechanical behavior, which is of important practical significance for geological disaster risk assessment and prevention. To quantitatively investigate the microscopic properties of natural structured clay, soft clay soils from various sedimentary environments in the Hangzhou Estuarine Bay area were chosen as the research subject in this study. Subsequently, a comprehensive investigation into the microstructure of clay was conducted, involving X-ray phase analysis and SEM imaging analysis. The results revealed the following: (1) In comparison to the deep clay deposited in fluvial-lacustrine environments, the shallow mucky clay in marine sediments had a higher clay mineral content, accounting for 48%. Illite makes up the majority of it, with minor levels of kaolinite and montmorillonite being present. (2) The shallow mucky clay in the Hangzhou Estuarine Bay area had a typical agglomerate-flocculated structure. In contrast, the deeper clay showed a flocculated structure with less uniform particle sizes, strong stacking randomness, poor directional alignment of soil pores, and tends to form arrangements where edges are adjacent to faces or edges are adjacent to other edges. (3) Compared to the deep clay deposited in fluvial-lacustrine environments, the marine-deposited shallow mucky clay displayed orderly pore arrangements, strong directional alignment, significant pore shape variability, and minimal pore size changes between adjacent pores. The microstructure of soil plays a crucial role in determining the physical, mechanical, and other engineering properties of the soil. This study provides insightful information about the relationship between clay microstructure and geotechnical characteristics in Hangzhou and the surrounding areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:17:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-11badf3337a34a8d8c2f021e871817e1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:17:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-11badf3337a34a8d8c2f021e871817e12023-12-27T04:13:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632023-12-011110.3389/feart.2023.13123261312326Investigation of the microscopic properties of natural structured clayDi Ning0Qingshan Ma1Weiya Ge2Zefei Shao3Ting Lei4Huaixue Xing5Hebei Cangzhou Groundwater and Land Subsidence National Observation and Research Station, Cangzhou, ChinaNanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaNanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaNanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaNanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaNanjing Center, China Geological Survey, Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaConducting quantitative research on the microstructure of soft clay can reveal the essence of its soil mechanical behavior, which is of important practical significance for geological disaster risk assessment and prevention. To quantitatively investigate the microscopic properties of natural structured clay, soft clay soils from various sedimentary environments in the Hangzhou Estuarine Bay area were chosen as the research subject in this study. Subsequently, a comprehensive investigation into the microstructure of clay was conducted, involving X-ray phase analysis and SEM imaging analysis. The results revealed the following: (1) In comparison to the deep clay deposited in fluvial-lacustrine environments, the shallow mucky clay in marine sediments had a higher clay mineral content, accounting for 48%. Illite makes up the majority of it, with minor levels of kaolinite and montmorillonite being present. (2) The shallow mucky clay in the Hangzhou Estuarine Bay area had a typical agglomerate-flocculated structure. In contrast, the deeper clay showed a flocculated structure with less uniform particle sizes, strong stacking randomness, poor directional alignment of soil pores, and tends to form arrangements where edges are adjacent to faces or edges are adjacent to other edges. (3) Compared to the deep clay deposited in fluvial-lacustrine environments, the marine-deposited shallow mucky clay displayed orderly pore arrangements, strong directional alignment, significant pore shape variability, and minimal pore size changes between adjacent pores. The microstructure of soil plays a crucial role in determining the physical, mechanical, and other engineering properties of the soil. This study provides insightful information about the relationship between clay microstructure and geotechnical characteristics in Hangzhou and the surrounding areas.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1312326/fullmicrostructurequantitative analysisX-ray testingSEM testingsoft clay |
| spellingShingle | Di Ning Qingshan Ma Weiya Ge Zefei Shao Ting Lei Huaixue Xing Investigation of the microscopic properties of natural structured clay Frontiers in Earth Science microstructure quantitative analysis X-ray testing SEM testing soft clay |
| title | Investigation of the microscopic properties of natural structured clay |
| title_full | Investigation of the microscopic properties of natural structured clay |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of the microscopic properties of natural structured clay |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of the microscopic properties of natural structured clay |
| title_short | Investigation of the microscopic properties of natural structured clay |
| title_sort | investigation of the microscopic properties of natural structured clay |
| topic | microstructure quantitative analysis X-ray testing SEM testing soft clay |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2023.1312326/full |
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