Engineering approach on stability assessment of loess soil structures considering basic geotechnical characteristics

Abstract

The category of collapsible soils, including loess, is considered one of the most widely distributed geological hazards, often resulting in severe damage to engineering structures. These unsaturated deposits with a loose structure are subjected to large volumetric strains upon wetting, resulting in significant settlements. The present paper is dedicated to the stability assessment of loess soils by taking into account the contribution of several geotechnical properties such as moisture content, porosity, shear strength, and deformation to collapsibility behavior. According to the experimental criteria achieved from laboratory testing, an integrative analysis on collapsing particularities of investigated soils has been performed, in order to contribute to further applications in building design on unstable soils, urban planning, and soil zoning maps to be used in risk management practice.