Collapse behaviour of compacted loess: role of the stress level on soil microstructure

Abstract

The paper presents preliminary results of an experimental study aimed at evaluating the influence of soil microstructure on the collapse behaviour of compacted loess from Xi'an, Shannxi province, China. Collapse behaviour was evaluated from one-dimensional compression tests in which compacted specimens were loaded to different vertical stresses, under constant water content conditions, prior soaking. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) tests and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis reveals a strong influence of the stress level on the soil microstructure formed by soaking under zero lateral deformation conditions.