Study on Swelling-Shrinkage Behavior of Vertisols along Fujian Coast

Abstract:

The climatic zone is characterized by alternate wet and dry seasons along Fujian coast. The vertisols experience periodic swelling-shrinkage during alternate wet and dry seasons. 16 soil samples from different profiles (0~20cm depth, 20~40cm depth)were collected from different regions in the research area. The paper shows the swelling-shrinkage behavior along Fujian coast in terms of morphology, particle content and physical properties of vertisols, The structure of the soil profile varies with depth, while the profile horizonation is weak. Crack network is usually observed on the surface. In addition, this paper investigated the effect of wetting and drying on the expansive chatacteristics of the soil. The test results show that after each cycle, the height of the soil samples increased. This indicates that the swell-shrink behavior of vertisols is not completely reversible. The swelling-shrinkage characteristics of soils become greater with stickier texture. Compared to undisturbed soils, the swelling-shrinkage behavior of disturbed soils are greater.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 255-260)
• Pages: 3610-3614
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.255-260.3610
• Online since: May 2011
• Authors: Ming Xia Chen, He Jian Zhu
• Keywords: Clay, Swelling-Shrinkage Behavior, Vertisols

References

[1] Hejian Zhu, Yigeng He: Soil Geography (Higher Education Press Chinese1992).

[2] Hejian Zhu, Binghua Tan and Jianfei Chen: Acta Pedologica Sinica. Vol. 26(1989), pp.287-297 (in Chinese).

[3] Hejian Zhu, Yongfeng Jiang and Binghua Tan: Acta Pedologica Sinica. Vol. 33(1996), pp.37-47 (in Chinese).

[4] Hejian Zhu, Jianmin Zheng and Binghua Tan: Acta Pedologica Sinica. Vol. 29(1992), pp.226-231 (in Chinese).

[5] Baorui Qi and Xiaolin Qin: Railway Standard Design. Vol. 6(2005), pp.11-13 (in Chinese).

[6] Zhiqing Li: Rock and Soil Mechanics. Vol. 31(2010), pp.270-275 (in Chinese).

[7] Aijun Chen and Heping Yang: Journal of Changsha Communications University. Vol. 19(2003), pp.21-25 (in Chinese).

[8] Xiuzhi Shi, Haiyan Hu and Jian Zhou: Journal of Central South University of Forestry & Technology. Vol. 30(2010), pp.144-149 (in Chinese).

[9] MaCormack D E, Wilding L P: Soil Sci Am Proc. Vol. 39(1974), pp.496-500.