Abstract
In order to explore the fractal characteristics of particle size distribution (PSD) of various minerals in loess and lime-treated loess, the Q4 undisturbed loess and lime-treated loess were studied. From the perspective of multi-scaled microstructure, the internal characteristics of loess were observed and the regularity statistics were carried out from a macroscopic view. Fractal theory was used to quantitatively study the distribution of mineral particles in undisturbed loess and lime-treated loess. It was found that the skeleton particles of undisturbed loess were obvious and the structure of soil was loose. While that of lime-treated loess decreased, the fine particles were connected with each other, and the structure of soil changed from loose to dense. The three mineral particles in the undisturbed loess and lime-treated loess did not accord with the single fractal distribution characteristics, but the total particles had fractal characteristics. The percentage content of the mineral particles in the soil varied greatly with the particle size. In addition, the non-uniform degrees of mineral particles in the two soils from large to small were carbonate minerals of lime-treated loess, carbonate minerals of undisturbed loess, quartz minerals of lime-treated loess, feldspar mineral of lime-treated loess, feldspar mineral of the undisturbed loess, and the quartz mineral of the undisturbed loess. This paper provided a basis for the future study of the different soil mechanical properties of undisturbed loess and lime-treated loess.
Highlights
Loess is a widely-distributed typical structural soil [1,2,3]
At present, many scholars use multifractal theory to study the characteristics of soil particle size distribution, and multifractal method can reflect the local heterogeneity and non-uniformity of soil structure in detail [12]
Guan et al concluded that the multifractal spectrum parameters of soil particle size distribution can reflect the non-uniformity of soil particle size distribution [16]
Summary
Loess is a widely-distributed typical structural soil [1,2,3] It is used as a common building material in highway subgrade or roadbed. Its macro complexity features such as discontinuity, non-uniformity, and anisotropy are closely related to its microstructure [4] These characteristics cause certain challenges for highway engineering in the loess area. Liu et al pointed out that the particle size fractal dimension could reflect the pore and microstructure characteristics of soil, and it was a method of characterizing the non-uniformity of cohesive soil [9]. The fractal dimension of soil was characterized by the quantitative distribution of particle size, which provided a method for the study of fractal structure. Guan et al concluded that the multifractal spectrum parameters of soil particle size distribution can reflect the non-uniformity of soil particle size distribution [16]
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