Soil Material Research Articles

Origin and depositional background of the Holocene black soil in Northeast China: Evidence from grain-size analysis and optically stimulated luminescence dating

The fertile Holocene black soil of Northeast China make it a major grain producing region, however, this soil is increasingly vulnerable to erosion. Knowledge of the origin and depositional background of the black soil in Northeast China can provide a reference for the conservation of the soil resources of this region. To this end, we examined the grain-size characteristics of the Holocene black soil across the plains in Northeast China, and we conducted optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of the underlying stratum. The western Holocene black soils have a bimodal grain-size distribution similar to that of the sandy loess deposits on the Chinese Loess Plateau. In contrast, the eastern Holocene black soils mostly have a trimodal grain-size distribution similar to that of reworked loess in flood plains. From west to east, the median grain size and the sand content gradually decrease from >120 μm to <20 μm and from >80 % to <20 %, respectively. This eastward fining trend is consistent with the prevailing westerly winds during the dust storm season, indicating a wind-blown origin for the black soil material which was transported primarily from the adjacent sandy lands. Furthermore, our OSL ages reveal that the underlying stratum of the Holocene black soil was primarily deposited during the last glacial period, with the relatively wide depositional age range of 2–65 ka. This suggests unstable geomorphological conditions in Northeast China prior to the formation of the black soil, which may have resulted from the enhanced erosion and decreased vegetation cover.

Volatilization of dimethylsilanediol (DMSD) under environmentally relevant conditions: Sampling method and impact of water and soil materials

Dimethylsilanediol (DMSD) is the common breakdown product of methylsiloxanes such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and volatile methylsiloxanes (VMS) in soil. In this work, we first present a sorbent selection experiment aiming to identify a sorbent that can trap gas-phase DMSD without causing DMSD condensation and VMS hydrolysis at environmentally relevant humidities. With a proper sorbent (Tenax) identified, the volatilization of DMSD from water and various wet soil and soil materials were measured in a controlled environment. It was demonstrated that DMSD underwent volatilization after soil water was completely evaporated. Various types of soil constituents show drastic differences in preventing DMSD from volatilization. Analysis of the sorbent-captured products provides further insight, most notably that virtually no cyclic methylsiloxanes are formed during the volatilization of DMSD from water or soil materials, except in one extreme case where only traces are detected.

Evaluating Different Track Sub-Ballast Solutions Considering Traffic Loads and Sustainability

The railway industry is seeking high-performance and sustainable solutions for sub-ballast materials, particularly in light of increasing cargo transport demands and climate events. The meticulous design and construction of track bed geomaterials play a crucial role in ensuring an extended track service life. The global push for sustainability has prompted the evaluation of recycling ballast waste within the railway sector, aiming to mitigate environmental contamination, reduce the consumption of natural resources, and lower costs. This study explores materials for application and compaction using a formation rehabilitation machine equipped with an integrated ballast recycling system designed for heavy haul railways. Two recycled ballast-stabilised soil materials underwent investigation, meeting the necessary grain size distribution for the proper compaction and structural conditions. One utilised a low-bearing-capacity silty sand soil stabilised with recycled ballast fouled waste (RFBW) with iron ore at a 3:7 weight ratio, while the second was stabilised with 3% cement. Laboratory tests were conducted to assess their physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, and a non-linear elastic finite element numerical model was developed to evaluate the potential of these alternative solutions for railway sub-ballast. The findings indicate the significant potential of using soils stabilised with recycled fouled ballast as sub-ballast for heavy haul tracks, underscoring the advantages of adopting sustainable sub-ballast solutions through the reuse of crushed deteriorated ballast material.

Toward a common methodological framework for the sampling, extraction, and isotopic analysis of water in the Critical Zone to study vegetation water use

AbstractThe analysis of the stable isotopic composition of hydrogen and oxygen in water samples from soils and plants can help to identify sources of vegetation water uptake. This approach requires that the heterogeneous nature of plant and soil matrices is carefully accounted for during experimental design, sample collection, water extraction and analyses. The comparability and shortcomings of the different methods for extracting water and analyzing isotopic composition have been discussed in specialized literature. Yet, despite insightful comparisons of extraction methods and benchmarking methodologies of laboratories worldwide, the community still lacks a roadmap to guide sample collection, extraction, and isotopic analyses, and many practical issues for potential users remain unresolved: for example, which (soil or plant) water pool(s) does the extracted water represent? These constitute a hurdle for the implementation of the approach by newcomers. Here, we summarize discussions led in the framework of the COST Action WATSON (“WATer isotopeS in the critical zONe: from groundwater recharge to plant transpiration”—CA19120). We provide guidelines for (1) sampling soil and plant material for isotopic analysis, (2) methods for laboratory or in situ water extraction, and (3) measurements of isotopic composition. We highlight the importance of considering the process chain as a whole, from experimental design to isotopic analysis to minimize biased estimates of the relative contribution of different water sources to plant water uptake. We conclude by acknowledging some of the limitations of this methodology and advice on the collection of key environmental parameters prior to sample collection for isotopic analyses.This article is categorized under: Science of Water &gt; Hydrological Processes Science of Water &gt; Water and Environmental Change Science of Water &gt; Water Extremes

Investigating the serve life of common earthed materials based on evaluations of the soil corrosion in offshore areas of East China

The serve life of common earthed materials in power systems is essentially affected by the soil environment, especially the potential corrosion problem of sodium chloride contaminated soil in offshore areas. This study measured the corrosion rates of three common earthed metal materials, Q235 carbon steel, pure Al, and H62 brass, in typical chloride saline soil using accelerated and field corrosion tests. The acceleration ratio and kinetic correlation coefficient under different acceleration conditions were calculated, and the laboratory and field corrosion time correlation models of common earthed metal materials were obtained. The results show a good correlation between soil accelerated and field corrosion tests. Under the same temperature and salinity, the correlation degree of Q235 carbon steel is larger when the water content is 30%. In comparison, the correlation degree of pure Al and H62 brass is larger when the water content is 20%. The laboratory and field corrosion time correlation models of Q235 carbon steel, pure Al, and H62 brass in chloride type saline soil environment are T1=18.32T0, T1=95.56T0, T1=15.78T0, which can effectively evaluate the serve life of common earthed metal materials in typical chloride type saline soil in the offshore area of East China.

Geological, geophysical, and geotechnical approaches on the slip surface investigation on Cisumdawu Highway, West Java, Indonesia

This study used geological, geophysical, and geotechnical methods to investigate the causes of landslides in a newly established Cileunyi Sumedang Dawuan (Cisumdawu) Highway, Sumedang Regency, West Java Province. A combination of geological field observation, subsurface geoelectric resistivity-based survey, and borehole drilling were applied to obtain the subsurface data of a research area. A total of 10 boreholes were drilled to collect geoengineering data, including the soil material and N-SPT value for validation purposes. The soil hardness and resistivity were measured and compared to establish the relationship between resistivity and engineering properties. The result revealed that percolating water zone in the permeable loose soil was located above the impermeable layer, estimated as a slip surface. The analysed subsurface measurement and borehole data showed that the depth of the slip surface is between 26-27m. The study is important to determine the mitigation steps for the highway slope stability construction.

ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIALLY TOXIC ELEMENTS CONTAMINATION AND THEIR UPTAKE BY AMBROSIA ARTEMISIIFOLIA L. IN SOILS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

This research focused on the determination of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) distribution in different agricultural soils and Ambrosia atremisiifolia L. (ragweed) at seven, different locations in the northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Quantification of PTEs was done using atomic absorption spectrophotometry provided after acid digestion of the air-dried samples of soil and plant material. Determined content of elements in the soils increased as follows: Cd&lt;Pb&lt;Cu&lt;Zn&lt;Cr&lt;Ni&lt;Mn&lt;Fe and were under the allowed maximum for unpolluted soils, except for Ni and Cr. However, transfer of Ni and Cr from the soil to the ragweed as well as their bioaccumulation was not intensive. Established metal contents ratio from plant tissues (root and shoot) to soil for both elements, represented their bioaccumulation factors (BAF), which were extremely low in the roots, as well as in the shoots, both in average less than 0.2. On the other hand, Zn showed a tendency to accumulate in ragweed shoots (BAF=2.07). The study showed that uptake and accumulation of PTEs in the ragweed was mainly influenced by their content in the soil, as well as specific characteristics and biological role of each element. Hence, content of PTEs in the ragweed tissue could be used as the soil contamination degree indicator.

Black Soils in the Eastern Mediterranean: Genesis and Properties

This study investigates the distribution, morphology, and properties of these soils, focusing on areas such as littoral plains, high hilly areas, and rift depression valleys. Black soils occur in the eastern Mediterranean with a limited distribution, and some of them meet the requirements for black soils according to the INBS (International Network of Black Soils), while others do not. Black soils can be categorized into three types based on their genesis and evolution: calcareous black soils (mainly raw rocky rendzina), hydromorphic black soils, and black soil on basalt. While black soils were found in various bioclimatic stages and parent materials, their presence was notably limited in certain areas, contrary to prior indications. A soil morphology analysis revealed distinct color variations and depths, influenced by the accumulation of organic matter for hydromorphic and calcareous black soils and basaltic parent material for black soils on basalt. A particle size analysis indicated texture variations from clay to loam, with no clear indication of illuviation. A chemical analysis showed alkaline pH levels, except in basalt-derived soils, which exhibited a slight acidity. Hydromorphic black soil is the most important in terms of expansion and agricultural use and is only found in limestone marl deposits and lakes in depressions emerging from Dead Sea rifts under conditions of saturation or poor drainage. These soils have a thick, dark moly horizon and a high organic matter content.

Compaction and strength characteristics of lead contaminated lateritic soil treated with eco-friendly biopolymer for use as road foundation material

Reuse of unwanted soil material due to contamination is one of the available alternative to mitigate the depletion of natural construction material like lateritic soil. Lateritic soil can become contaminated as a result of mining activities. However, assessment of such soil for adequate compaction and strength development is a critical requirement for establishing foundation for road pavement failure of which can result in rapid deterioration of structural integrity of pavement. The research paper investigated the efficacy of Gum Arabic biopolymer (GAB) as eco-friendly additive, in enhancing strength development of lead-contaminated lateritic soil (LCLS) for use as foundation material for road pavement. Varying contents of GAB up to 25% of the dry weight of soil in 5% succession was used in treating LCLS. Compaction characteristics, Maximum Dry Density (MDD) and Optimal Moisture Content (OMC), and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) with microstructural analysis of the treated soil were assessed using three distinct compactive efforts: British Standard Light (BSL), West African Standard (WAS), and British Standard Heavy (BSH). With increase in GAB content, there is a corresponding rise in MDD, while OMC decreased across all three compaction efforts. Optimal CBR values were obtained at 10% GAB content across the three compactive efforts. The Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) analysis revealed modifications in the surface morphology occurring at the peripheries of clay particles. The R-squared (R2) values of the regression models derived from statistical analysis of all dependent variables revealed that GAB, MDD, OMC and CE (compactive effort) collectively exert considerable significant effect over CBR values. However, the ultimate strength values fall short of the recommended thresholds for sub-base stabilization. This suggests that a GAB content of 10% enhances the characteristics of contaminated lateritic soil. However, it should not be employed as a sole stabilizer; instead, it could be considered as a potential admixture in cement stabilization.

Effect of multiple-compaction on laterite soil: geotechnical and geo-statistical analysis

Multiple-compaction demonstrates cyclic loading on laterite soils used in highway construction and its effects on engineering properties. The method determines the mechanical stability of derived soils from porphyritic granite, granite gneiss, and charnockite. Fifty-one soil samples were obtained from the horizons of the laterite soil profiles. Four sets of dynamic compactions were carried out on each sample. Index engineering properties such as specific gravity, Atterberg limits, and particle size distribution were investigated before and after multiple-compaction. The changes in engineering properties and moisture-density characteristics were investigated using the granulometric modulus and hardness index. Through multiple-compaction, larger grains in soils derived from granite gneiss and porphyritic granite disintegrated into smaller particles. The fine grains break down more easily than the large grains of quartz bound by clayey materials in charnockite-derived soils. Interestingly, the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content remain consistent in porphyritic and granite gneiss-derived soils after multiple compactions. Based on the densification and behaviour of the derived soils under multiple compaction in highway construction, porphyritic granite and granite gneiss-derived soils are more suitable as engineering materials than charnockite-derived soils.

Improving the Bearing Capacity of Clay Soil Using Plastic Bottle Waste

With the increase in industry and industrial products, quantities of waste have increased worldwide, especially plastic waste, as plastic pollution is considered one of the wastes of the modern era that threatens the environment and living organisms. On this basis, a solution must be found to use this waste and recycle it safely so that it does not threaten the environment. Therefore, this research used plastic waste as an improvement material for clay soil. In this research, two types of tests were conducted, the first of which was a laboratory test, where the undrained shear strength (cohesion), compression index (Cc), and swelling index (Cr) of the improved and unimproved soils were calculated (plastic was added in proportions (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2)%. The second part of the examination was done through physical modeling, where 2% of plastic was used, considered the optimal percentage in this research, and the calculation of the carrying capacity-settlement relationship for both the improved and unimproved soils. Using this percentage of plastic showed an improvement in the relationship between the bearing capacities of soil vs. subsidence, as an increase in the amount of stress was observed from 405 KPa to 459 kPa at 10% of subsidence.

Pine cone ash stabilization of expansive soils

&lt;p&gt;The use of appropriate waste materials to stabilize problematic soils, such as expansive soils that are responsible for geotechnical damage, is a common practice in geotechnical engineering. This study presents the use of pulverized ash from the combustion of pine cone (PC) waste as a stabilizing agent to improve the engineering properties of expansive soils. A series of laboratory tests were carried out to examine the effect of different percentages of pine cone ash (PCA) content (3%, 5%, 7%, and 10%) on the Atterberg limits, swelling potential (Sp), linear shrinkage, compressibility, and unconfined compressive strength (qu) of naturally occurring swelling soils and the PC ash-treated soils. The results showed that PC ash contents of 5% and 7% contributed to a significant reduction in the swelling and shrinkage potential and an improvement in the coarsest texture, brittleness behavior, compaction properties, and compressive strength of the treated soils. Conversely, PC ash contents below 3% and above 7% showed minimal changes in the index and engineering properties of the PC ash-treated soils. In particular, the PC ash content of 5% resulted in optimal mitigation of the poor properties of the treated soils. The use of pine cone ash as a stabilizing agent represents a suitable and complementary subgrade soil material for expansive soils on which lightweight structures are built.&lt;/p&gt;&#x0D;

Zoocompost – a solution to the organic waste problem and a material for soils polluted with heavy metals remediation

Recycling of organic waste is an acute environmental problem. Recently, the most promising are innovative technologies for bio-processing of organic residues with the help of insects. The method of obtaining organic fertilizer from organic waste using larvae of the Black Lion fly is quite new in the agro-industrial sphere and allows solving the problems of protein production and processing of organic waste. An important task is also to study the possibility of using a zoo compost for the restoration of technogenically disturbed soils. It was found that the zoo compost retains its stability and physico-chemical characteristics for a long time, adding it in an amount of 1.25 wt.% to soil samples reduces the content of the mobile form of cadmium by 41%. Thus, it is possible to recommend the use of zoocompost as a biofertilizer, as well as for remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals.

Performance of Nickel Slag as a Stabilization Material for Soft Soil

The chemical soil stabilization method is an effort to improve soil bearing capacity according to soil work specifications in construction. The use of conventional stabilization materials, such as cement and lime, is considered environmentally unfriendly. Utilizing by-products from the mining industry becomes an alternative that can be developed in soil improvement efforts. This research aims to examine the influence of nickel slag on the enhancement of soil bearing capacity as observed through its unconfined compressive strength value. In this study, the concentration of added nickel slag as a stabilization material is 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12% by dry soil weight. The test specimens used are cylinders with a diameter of 5 cm and a height of 10 cm. Unconfined compressive strength testing is conducted after the specimens are cured for 14 days. The results of this study indicate that the clay soil used is classified as organic clay with high plasticity based on the USCS classification, with an unconfined compressive strength value of 0.2 kg/cm2. The addition of nickel slag with concentrations of 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12% results in respective increases in unconfined compressive strength by 46%, 50%, 68%, and 47%. These findings demonstrate that the optimum nickel slag content of 6% provides the maximum unconfined compressive strength. Therefore, it can be concluded that nickel slag, as a source of silica, has the potential to be used as an alternative material in soft soil improvement.

Growth of Urochloa grass in an oxisol treated with powdered silicate materials

An experiment was carried out in pots with a soil mixed with six powdered silicate materials originated from mining (kyanite, biotite schist, biotite syenite, basalt, vermiculite, or bentonite). These sources were mixed in 4.4 kg of soil (Anionic Acrustox) at the rates of 0 (control), or 440 g of ground silicate materials, in pots where Urochloa decumbens cultivar Basilisk was grown. The grass growth followed the relative total dry mass (%): 100 &gt; 93.8 &gt; 82.7 &gt; 71.4 &gt; 54.4 &gt; 9.4 &gt; 6.8 for biotite schist, bentonite, vermiculite, basalt, syenite, kyanite, and soil (control), respectively. Soil pH (6.5) ultimately decreased Mn availability to plants. Although some silicate materials increased Mn availability to plants, increasing treated plants growth, it was not possible to evaluate if plants were able to acquire more P when treated with silicate materials. Concentrations of Fe and P extracted from the soil and from shoots were highly correlated with dry mass. The reactivity of these materials in soils increasing soil pH may be an important parameter for ranking agrominerals, as the availability of nutrients was correlated to the amount of carbonate used to increase pH of the treated soil to 6.5.

BEHAVIOR OF PHYSICAL AND DENSITY PROPERTIES OF SOFT SOIL STABILIZED WITH NICKEL SLAG

Soft soils have become a significant challenge in geotechnical engineering, due to their low bearing capacity and susceptibility to deformation. Chemical stabilization using nickel slag is an alternative solution and is considered more environmentally friendly. This article focuses on the utilization of nickel slag as a binder material aimed at behavior of physical and mechanical properties of soft soil stabilized with nickel slag soft soil. The nickel slag was carried out with variations of 3%, 6%, 9% and 12% by weight of soil. All the test using ASTM procedure in order to gain physical and mechanical value. The results of this study showed that plasticity index decrease with the increasing of slag nickel concentration, where it is an indication of a change in soil consistency, shifting from initially soft to now medium. Futher, the optimum dry density (d-opt) value of the original soil used was 1.09 gr/cm3, while the optimum dry density (d) values at 3%, 6%, 9% and 12% nickel slag addition were 1.12 gr/cm3; 1.15 gr/cm3; 1.19 gr/cm3 and 1.22 gr/cm3, respectively. These results show that the presence of nickel slag can increase influence the physical and density properties of soft soil, which indicates that nickel slag has the potential to be used as a stabilization material in soft soil.

Emerging technologies and advanced analyses for non-invasive near-surface site characterization

The in-situ small-strain shear modulus of soil and rock materials is a parameter of paramount importance in geotechnical modeling. It can be derived from non-invasive geophysical surveys, which provide the possibility of testing the subsurface in its natural and undisturbed condition by inferring the velocity of propagation of shear waves. In addition, for soil dynamics and earthquake engineering applications, the small-strain damping ratio plays a relevant role, yet its estimation is still challenging, lacking consolidated approaches for its in-situ evaluation. Recent advancements in instrumentation, such as distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), combined with advanced analysis methodologies for the interpretation of seismic wave propagation (e.g., machine learning and full waveform inversion), open new frontiers in site characterization. This paper presents and compares some advanced applications of measuring 1D and 2D variations in shear wave velocity and attenuation in-situ with reference to a specific case history.

Qualitative investigations into floodways under extreme flood loading

AbstractThe Australian use of the term floodway refers to a trafficable transverse structure designed to facilitate the safe crossing of watercourses. Floodways are also commonly referred to as fords and causeways. This research explores areas of focus through experimental, numerical and survey methods to improve floodway resilience with regard to flood risk management. The industry‐based survey provides a dataset relating to user experiences, deduces the likeliness of floodways to sustain damage, defines several key focus areas, and reveals that the current risk levels are primarily managed without significant investigation into design. A floodway experimental and numerical simulation program was developed to investigate the lateral forces induced through debris impact using scaled models in a soil box and finite element analysis. Qualitatively, crack propagation and displacement correlated closely with the strain concentrations and displacements in the numerical simulation, with failure attributed to tensile strength being exceeded, followed by plastic strain development within the soil elements. It was concluded through this research that floodway failure during flood is complex and can be attributed to several different failure modes including concrete failure, yielding of adjoining soil material, and hydraulically via scour.

Parent material, weathering and heavy metal contamination in the surface soils from basin infill sediments in Elazığ Industrial Area, Eastern Turkey

In this study, geochemical properties were investigated to constrain the provenance, weathering conditions and to evaluate distribution and potential sources of heavy metals in the surface soils from basin infill sediments in Elazığ Industrial Area, Eastern Turkey. Soil samples contain clay minerals (smectite, chlorite and illite), feldspar, quartz, calcite and dolomite. Geochemical patterns of major, trace and rare earth elements in soil samples generally are consistent with those of host rocks. Ba, Cs, Rb, Th, Zr and U contents are less than amounts of Post Archean Australian Shale composition, may reveal that source rocks of soils in the study area are of mafic composition. The Eu/Eu*, Th/Sc, Zr/Sc ratios show that source rocks of the most of the studied soil samples are of basic source except samples from the waste area. Chemical index of alteration (CIA) indices observed in the samples suggest that their source rocks were low to moderately weathered. The levels of metals in soil collected from all the sampling sites was found to decreased in the order of: Mn > Zn > Ni > Cr > Cu > Co > Pb > Mo > Cd. Enrichment factors, coefficients of variation, correlation analysis and principal component analysis were determined that sources of elements in soils are classified into two general categories; they are either lithogenic (natural) or anthropogenic (human made). It is found that source of Mn, Cr, Mo, Cd are anthropogenic, whilst source of Cu and Co are entirely and Pb, Zn, Ni are predominately lithogenic and, they are affected by geochemical character of the source rocks.

A Study on Sensitivity of Soil-Based Building Mixtures to Biodeterioration by Fungi: Towards Sustainable Earth Structures

Earth structures have a significant sustainable impact on regulating indoor environmental qualities. Yet, using soil materials can lead to fungal growth, impacting occupant health and structural stability. This study investigates the susceptibility of earth-based construction materials with cement, limestone, and acrylic-based additives to fungal growth. Laboratory tests were conducted on mixtures under conditions found in inhabited buildings in hot–arid regions. The proposed methodology was based on a 7-week artificial incubation of fungi obtained from moldy walls through regulating the room temperature to fall between 18 °C and 19 °C and a controlled humidity level of around 45%. These conditions were adopted according to the readings monitored in typical buildings in the study area. The results showed that fungal growth was evident on the surface of mixtures, including higher percentages of soil and lower percentages of additives. Mixtures comprising 50% soil, 15% acrylic-based additive, 15% quicklime, and 20% cement supported the least fungal growth, presenting the best choice as a sustainable, efficient replacement. Visual observation followed by microscopic examination ensured the results. Furthermore, results of an environmental post-occupancy evaluation of a constructed rammed earth building using the optimized mixture showed no signs of fungal proliferation on the inner walls afterward.