Effect of monotonic and cyclic temperature variations on the mechanical behavior of a compacted soil

Settlement and slope stability of an embankment are mechanical aspects that play a major role in structural safety. Due to the tendency towards renewable energy, the embankments can be considered as a suitable medium for thermal energy storage. Using horizontal heat exchanger tubes, the thermal energy will be stored in different compacted soil layers in an embankment. Therefore, this structure can be subjected to daily and seasonally temperature variations due to heat extraction. Cyclic temperature variation can modify the mechanical behavior of compacted soils. Thus this study aims to investigate the effect of monotonic and temperature cycles in the range of 5 to 50 degrees C, on consolidation parameters and shear characteristics of a compacted sandy lean clay. To achieve this, temperature-controlled oedometric and direct shear tests were performed. Results showed that the effect of heating and cooling on mechanical properties is more pronounced under vertical stresses higher than the preconsolidation pressure. By heating, the normal consolidation line shifted to the left and consequently, the apparent preconsolidation decreased. Compression and swelling indexes could be considered independent of temperature variation. Due to the temperature cycles, the volumetric response of the compacted soil in oedometric and shear tests was stress history-dependent. Results of the direct shear tests showed that by temperature variation (heating/cooling and temperature cycles) the cohesion increased and the friction angle remained unchanged.

Automated summary

The study found that the effect of heating and cooling on mechanical properties is more pronounced under vertical stresses higher than the preconsolidation pressure, while compression and swelling indexes may be independent of temperature variation. Temperature cycles can lead to stress history-dependent volumetric response of compacted soil in oedometric and shear tests.