Acta Geotechnica最新文献

{"title":"Micromechanical characterization and upscaling homogenization analysis of heterogeneous Xiyu conglomerate","authors":"Xuelei Duan,&nbsp;Wei Wang,&nbsp;Yajun Cao,&nbsp;Qiang Zhang,&nbsp;Qizhi Zhu,&nbsp;Jianfu Shao,&nbsp;Wanqing Shen","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-03003-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-03003-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Xiyu conglomerate, sampled from a reservoir bank slope in Kashgar, China represents a heterogeneous soil-rock composite characterized by complex mineral compositions and uneven particles. Its hydro-sensitive nature, weak cementation, and low intact core recovery rate pose significant challenges in multiscale mechanical characterization. To this end, a multiscale characterization framework integrating microscopic testing, statistical deconvolution, and homogenization method was proposed to bridge nano-to-macroscale mechanical responses. Mineral composition was quantified through backscattered electron signal (BSE) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, complemented by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and micro-CT for surface topography and pore structure characterization. Nanoindentation coupled with Gaussian mixture model (GMM) deconvolution enabled discrimination of constituent mineral mechanical parameters (elastic modulus, indentation hardness and fracture toughness), revealing micromechanical behavior. The results show that the other minerals (hematite, rutile, pyroxene) exhibit the highest elastic modulus, followed sequentially by quartz, feldspar, mica, and clay minerals, with analogous evolution trends observed in hardness and fracture toughness. The elastic modulus for various mineral phase is positively correlated with the hardness. Increased fracture toughness in the Xiyu conglomerate accompanies increases in both elastic modulus and indentation hardness among minerals. Compared with the macroscopic uniaxial compression test, the three homogenization methods overestimate elastic moduli compared to experimental data, with generalized self-consistent (GSC) demonstrating superior predictive capability over Mori-Tanaka (MT) and self-consistent (SC) methods for heterogeneous conglomerates. The above multiscale characterization results provide critical benchmarks for predicting mechanical parameters in water conservancy infrastructure constructed within heterogeneous conglomerate formations of southern Xinjiang.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 8","pages":"4963 - 4989"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149163036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Salinity-induced transition in the geotechnical behavior of fine-grained soils under near-zero effective stress: a physically based predictive framework","authors":"Marco Terzariol,&nbsp;M. Clara Modenesi","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02999-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02999-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Salinity variations in pore fluids can significantly influence interparticle forces, leading to changes in soil properties and behavior. Whether natural or human-induced, changes in pore fluid chemistry have important implications at the seafloor, where effective stress approaches zero, and where both marine life and infrastructure depend on sediment stability. To identify the threshold salt concentration that triggers geotechnical and behavioral changes under near-zero effective stress, and to establish a simple indicator of soil susceptibility, we conducted over 300 geotechnical laboratory tests on four soils with diverse mineralogical compositions and particle size distributions. Based on these results, we developed a simple, physically meaningful, and asymptotically correct model that quantitatively predicts the effects of ionic concentration on soil behavior. The specific surface area (<i>S</i>_S) emerged as a reliable predictor of salinity sensitivity, with pronounced effects observed in soils where <i>S</i>_S exceeds 50 m²/g. Finally, we applied our findings to a simplified case study of salinity intrusion in the Black Sea, demonstrating the model’s practical relevance.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 8","pages":"4991 - 5009"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149163172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic mechanisms of material provenance, ramming technique, and environmental factors on the microfabric of heritage rammed earth in northwestern China","authors":"Kai Cui,&nbsp;Chengrui Ge,&nbsp;Pengfei Xu,&nbsp;Xiangyu Wen,&nbsp;Hongke Liu,&nbsp;Zijuan Dong,&nbsp;Hua Xia,&nbsp;Yang Yang","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-03026-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-03026-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Heritage rammed earth represents a unique geomaterial shaped through the interaction of local material sourcing, manual ramming, and long-term environmental processes. Understanding how its microfabric forms and transforms is fundamental to the conservation of earthen heritage. This study investigates 35 representative sites across northwestern China, encompassing five climatic zones and five historical periods from the Han to Qing dynasties. By integrating 3D surface scanning, scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution paleoclimate reconstruction, the research systematically explores the synergistic mechanisms linking material provenance, ramming techniques, and environmental weathering. Results indicate that the aspect ratio of constituent particles decreases progressively from west to east (approximately 1.54 → 1.42), reflecting a transition from elongated, angular grains derived from proximal alluvial-diluvial sources to rounded, equant particles produced by long-distance fluvial transport. The Compaction Index (CI), derived from 3D roughness, pit area ratio and rhythmicity, shows a consistent negative correlation with structural parameters such as coordination number (<span>(C_{{text{n}}})</span>) and anisotropy coefficient (<span>(A_{{text{c}}})</span>), demonstrating that low-frequency, high-impact ramming promotes denser and more ordered microstructures. Over time, environmental factors become dominant drivers of microfabric evolution: both the frequency of wet-dry alternation (<span>(F_{{{text{dw}}}})</span>) and the cumulative disturbance intensity (<span>(D_{{text{L}}})</span>) exhibit strong power-law correlations with structural organization, highlighting the long-term role of climatic alternation in promoting microstructural densification and orientation. These findings reveal a threefold mechanism: materials define potential boundaries, ramming techniques determine initial configuration, and environment governs long-term transformation, providing a quantitative framework for interpreting and conserving the structural integrity of heritage rammed earth.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 8","pages":"5011 - 5034"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149163171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A multiscale model for estimating spontaneous imbibition in tight porous media considering surface effects","authors":"Yafei Xu,&nbsp;Lingfeng Guo,&nbsp;Xiaolong Li,&nbsp;Yingguang Fang,&nbsp;Wei Zhang,&nbsp;Michael Beer,&nbsp;Yifei Sun","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-03020-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-03020-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Spontaneous imbibition model holds significant theoretical value and application potential in hydraulic fracturing and water migration. However, due to the neglect of nanoscale surface effects in conventional theories governing water flow, existing models fail to accurately describe the spontaneous imbibition in hydrophilic mineral nanopores. To tackle this issue, this study first quantitatively revealed the impact of surface effects on fluid behavior through theoretical derivation and then proposed an improved multiscale imbibition model. The model describes and expresses the surface effect through the interaction energy between fluids and minerals and the dynamic contact angle. Compared with existing models, the applicability of this model was then verified by experimental data of silica nanochannels, Bentheim core, and porous Vycor glass. Subsequently, the theory was employed to investigate the effects of pore size, mineral composition (quartz, muscovite, and montmorillonite), and pore geometry (slit and circular) on spontaneous imbibition behavior. The research findings reveal the impact of geotechnical parameters on the imbibition process: With increasing pore size, the average effective viscosity decreases and the influence of the dynamic contact angle becomes more pronounced, under identical conditions. In addition, compared to circular pores, the attenuation of solid–liquid interfacial interactions in slit pores exhibits a more gradual decay with increasing pore size. Specifically, in circular pores with a radius of 200 nm, the interaction between the pore wall and water can be neglected; however, in slit pores, even when the pore size reaches 1000 nm, the interaction between montmorillonite and water molecules remains significant.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 6","pages":"3209 - 3224"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148365916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spring-dashpot-added mass model for bucket foundations under lateral dynamic loading","authors":"Xinyi Huang,&nbsp;Rui He","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02991-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02991-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The dynamic impedances (including stiffness and damping) of bucket foundations play a key role in influencing the dynamic behaviour of bucket-supported offshore wind turbines (OWTs). This study presents a rigorous elastic solution for the dynamics of laterally loaded bucket foundations. Firstly, accurate closed-form formulae are obtained for frequency-dependent lumped and distributed springs and dashpots. The spring stiffness coefficients decrease with increasing load frequency. The spring damping coefficients primarily depend on the bucket foundation aspect ratios and are not significantly affected by the load frequency. Subsequently, the corresponding frequency-independent spring-dashpot-added mass model coefficients are obtained to facilitate engineering applications. The added masses are also primarily related to the bucket aspect ratio. The dynamic responses obtained using the different models are then compared, and the results demonstrate that the responses of wind turbines can be accurately predicted using the frequency-independent spring-dashpot-added mass model. The spring plays a governing role in the low-frequency range, while the dashpot plays an important role in the medium-frequency range, especially near the resonant frequencies of OWTs, and the added mass starts to play a significant role at high frequencies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 8","pages":"4927 - 4961"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149163046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of G-annulus in the interaction of fluid-driven cracks in porous media","authors":"Chong Liu,&nbsp;Jing Chen,&nbsp;Klaus Regenauer-Lieb,&nbsp;Manman Hu","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02997-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02997-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigates the role of the elastic energy release rate of a circular region ahead of the crack tip (<i>G</i>-annulus) in hydro-fracking, focusing on the interaction of fluid-driven fractures in a porous medium. We present a thermomechanics perspective characterizing the evolution of dissipative and stored energy release and systematically study the influencing factors using the phase-field method. We first verify our phase-field model of fracture under dry conditions by the double edged crack benchmark which can accurately capture the crack propagation and interaction, demonstrating the model’s capacity for investigating crack interaction. Our findings indicate that the interplay between the energy release rate within the <i>G</i>-annulus and fluid movement determines the dynamics of crack pair intertwining, including crack repulsion and attraction. Specifically, we observe that under the same injection conditions the energy release rate significantly influences the interacting crack pair, with a higher rate leading to a more prominent intertwining attributed to an expansion of the <i>G</i>-annulus. An increased injection rate accelerates fracture propagation and expands the <i>G</i>-annulus size, thus leading to more significant stress-field interactions. Conversely, a higher fluid mobility results in a relatively mild crack coalescence due to a less significant interaction of the stress fields as the fluid pressure distribution around the crack tips is lowered. This work extends its implications to geo-environmental engineering applications such as hydraulic fracturing in geothermal and subsurface CO<span>(_2)</span> sequestration projects, as well as potential biomedical engineering research.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 6","pages":"3183 - 3207"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11440-026-02997-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148365957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Utilizing nano-seashell powder as a sustainable substitute for nano-CaCO3 in strength enhancement of Ca(OH)2-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag for land reclamation","authors":"Sijun Zeng,&nbsp;Ning Ma,&nbsp;Clarence Edward Choi","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02934-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02934-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study addresses the high costs and environmental impacts associated with traditional nanoparticles and the extraction of natural resources. It proposes the innovative use of seashell waste, ground to nanoscale, as a sustainable alternative to nano-CaCO₃ for stabilizing dredged sediments in land reclamation. By repurposing approximately 20 million tons of annual seashell waste, the research offers a dual solution for waste management and soil stabilization. The research evaluates the effects of nanoscale seashell powder on the strength development, reaction kinetics, and microstructural changes of alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag-stabilized dredged sediments, with comparative assessments against pure nano-CaCO₃. Results demonstrate that nanoscale seashell powder exhibits a nucleation effect similar to nano-CaCO₃, accelerating the hydration reaction of alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag and enhancing strength development. A 10% nanoscale seashell powder content improves strength by 124%, 74%, and 41% after 3, 7, and 28 days, respectively. Notably, at 28 days, the strength enhancement achieved with nanoscale seashell powder (41.4%) is significantly higher than that with nano-CaCO₃ (18.4%). This superior performance is attributed to the organic components within the layered structure of seashells, which provide anti-agglomeration properties, resulting in a smaller effective particle size in water-based dispersions compared to nano-CaCO₃. Furthermore, the organic layers adsorbed onto nanoscale seashell particles impart hydrophobicity, reducing the liquid limit of the dredged sediments and inter-particle distances, thereby decreasing free water content and enhancing soil strength. Overall, the findings position nanoscale seashell powder as a renewable, low-carbon additive in soil stabilization, contributing to sustainable geotechnical practices and resource conservation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 7","pages":"3977 - 3992"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11440-026-02934-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148386093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental study on apparent viscosity and yield stress of clean sand in whole liquefaction process based on the Casson fluid model","authors":"Xiao Xie,&nbsp;Yumin Chen,&nbsp;Saeed Sarajpoor,&nbsp;Xiaofei Yao,&nbsp;Yi Han,&nbsp;Junwei Guo","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02962-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02962-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Soil liquefaction is a phenomenon in which the generation of excess pore pressure and stiffness degradation, caused by seismic loading, lead to a transition of the soil state from solid to fluid-like behavior. Recently, the concept of considering liquefied soil as a non-Newtonian fluid has become a convincing approach for investigating liquefaction behavior. In this paper, the Casson fluid model was used to investigate the fluid behavior of clean sand in whole liquefaction process. The results demonstrated that the viscosity and shear strain rate of the soil can be represented by a single variable parameter (Casson yield stress) in the Casson fluid model, whereas other models like the Power law require more parameters. The Casson yield stress was found to be dependent on factors such as effective consolidation stress, relative density, loading frequency, and soil types. The Casson yield stress decreased as the excess pore pressure ratio (<span>({r}_{u})</span>) increased, which can serve as an accurate indicator for identifying liquefaction triggering. The soil during post-liquefaction process was more vulnerable to liquefy than initial specimens under same conditions before the <span>({r}_{u})</span> dissipated to 0.65, while conversely, the specimens have better liquefaction resistance. The results of this study provided a new perspective on fluid characteristics of soil.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 8","pages":"4911 - 4926"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149163035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A vector-based hypoplastic model for interface behavior of granular material","authors":"Xuan Kang,&nbsp;Ivan Zaboev,&nbsp;Hao Yang,&nbsp;Shun Wang,&nbsp;Wei Wu","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02995-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02995-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This paper presents a vector-based hypoplastic model for the interface behavior of granular materials. By applying a unit normal vector, the original tensorial model is reduced to in-plane projections of stress and strain rate onto the contact surface. To model the shear-band formation in granular soils, a strain-gradient extension is incorporated into the vector-based hypoplastic model. By introducing an inherent length scale, a finite shear-band thickness in the post-localization regime can be reproduced. The proposed model inherits the simplicity of the original hypoplastic model while enabling shear-band analysis under interface conditions. Numerical simulations show that the proposed model captures the salient features of granular soil-structure interface behavior. In addition, the onset of localization and shear-band thickness are governed by the gradient boundary condition imposed at the contact surface.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 7","pages":"4123 - 4138"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11440-026-02995-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148386095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Field investigation of unsaturated seepage process and its influence on soil behavior in land creation for loess plateau with fiber-optic technology","authors":"Jie Liu,&nbsp;Bin Shi,&nbsp;Meng-Ya Sun,&nbsp;Kai Gu,&nbsp;Jun-Cheng Yao,&nbsp;Chao-Sheng Tang","doi":"10.1007/s11440-026-02963-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11440-026-02963-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Unsaturated seepage is a key factor in triggering geohazards in land constructed with compacted loess on the Loess Plateau. However, in situ monitoring of deep soil–water interactions remains challenging. In this study, a 77 m-deep fiber-optic monitoring borehole was established in Yan’an New District to investigate the unsaturated seepage process and its influence on soil behavior. Field studies indicated that the thick vadose zone can be divided into four parts, including two active zones interacting with atmospheric conditions. One of them is located at shallow ground, and the other one is positioned above the interface between compacted and natural loess. Piston flow and seasonal moisture changes dominate seepage in shallow active zone, leading to deformation governed by matric suction. In steady zones with slight water content variation, soil still experiences time-dependent deformation. The secondary consolidation coefficient (<i>C</i>_α) of compacted loess increases exponentially with depth, while natural loess shows lower and more stable values. In the deep active zone, preferential flow drives rapid water content increases and localized deformation. These findings support the development of deformation models considering different unsaturated seepage process.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49308,"journal":{"name":"Acta Geotechnica","volume":"21 7","pages":"3961 - 3976"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148386017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}