The effect of high temperature on the fracture damage of loess

Abstract

Exposure of loess to high temperatures is a significant environmental and geological problem that has recently been widely studied. To investigate the effects of high temperatures on the fracture damage of loess, a three-point bending test was performed on semi-circular high-temperature-treated loess specimens with different prefabricated cracks, assisted by modified fracture test equipment. The main findings are as follows: (1) fracture toughness of loess deceases with increasing crack angle and increasing with rising temperature; (2) the crack angle controls the transformation of the fracture damage mode (I and II) of loess and gradually transitions from opening mode to closing mode, thus affecting the damage states of loess crack; (3) the high temperature treatment process significantly affects the composition, minerals, structure and integrity of loess, thus improving the fracture damage resistance of loess specimen. These results provide an in-depth understanding of the properties of loess after high-temperature treatment, and also provide a theoretical reference for ecological restoration and post-fire disaster management in loess-rich areas.