Analysis of crack evolution of expansive soil embankment under extreme arid climate

Abstract

With the increasing impact of global climate change, the frequency of extreme arid climates worldwide is rising. These extreme arid conditions can have adverse effects on expansive soil embankments. In this study, the digital image technology is used to study the crack development characteristics of expansive soil embankments. The findings indicate that the crack development process in expansive soil can be divided into three stages: slow development, rapid development, and stable development. During the drying process, cracks develop differently on the waterward side, the top of the embankment, and the backwater side of the embankment. Initially, cracks appear on the top of the embankment, and their degree of development is the highest in this area. The crack degree on the top of the embankment is approximately 2 to 3 times greater than that on the waterward and backwater sides. Furthermore, longitudinal cracks on the top of the embankment have been analyzed from both macro and micro perspectives. This study is expected to help analyze the underlying formation mechanisms of desiccation cracking-inducing geohazards and access the long-term performance of expansive soil embankments in arid climates.