Crack Development in Compacted Loess Subjected to Wet–Dry Cycles: Experimental Observations and Numerical Modeling

作者：Xi Yu, Mingming Sun, Gang Li, Jinli Zhang · 发表于：Buildings · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3390/buildings15152625 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Landslides and related hazards、Soil and Unsaturated Flow、Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Stabilization

Loess, a typical soil widely distributed in China, exhibits engineering properties that are highly sensitive to environmental changes, leading to increased erosion and the development of surface cracks. This article examines the influence of initial moisture content, dry density, and thickness on crack formation in compacted loess subjected to wet–dry cycles, using both laboratory experiments and numerical simulation analysis. It quantitatively analyzes the process of crack evolution using digital image processing technology. The experimental results indicate that wet–dry cycles can cause cumulative damage to the soil, significantly encouraging the initiation and expansion of secondary cracks. New cracks often branch out and extend along the existing crack network, demonstrating that the initial crack morphology has a controlling effect over the final crack distribution pattern. Numerical simulations based on MultiFracS software further revealed that soil samples with a thickness of 0.5 cm exhibited more pronounced surface cracking characteristics than those with a thickness of 2 cm, with thinner layers of soil tending to form a more complex network of cracks. The simulation results align closely with the indoor test data, confirming the reliability of the established model in predicting fracture dynamics. The study provides theoretical underpinnings and practical guidance for evaluating the stability of engineering slopes and for managing and mitigating fissure hazards in lo...