为了研究酸碱赋存条件对膨胀土力学特性的影响,选取引江济淮工程C003标段膨胀土,通过自制的淋滤试验装置进行不同pH值酸碱溶液的膨胀土淋滤试验,基于界限含水率试验、三轴固结排水剪切试验探究膨胀土强度变化与溶液pH值的关系,并通过化学成分、X射线衍射分析物理力学特性变化的内在机理。结果表明:经酸性溶液淋滤后土体液塑限呈减小趋势,抗剪强度随pH值减小出现明显劣化;经碱性溶液淋滤后土体液塑限呈增大趋势,抗剪强度随pH值增大出现明显增强。微观试验发现,经酸性溶液作用后颗粒扩散层厚度变薄,胶结物遭到溶蚀,土体结构变差,因此,淋滤后试样表面存在孔洞,力学特性随pH值减小逐渐劣化;经碱性溶液作用后颗粒扩散层厚度变厚,土体体积出现膨胀,新生成的胶结物充填内部大小孔隙,土体结构变密实,因此,力学特性随pH值增大逐渐增强。

[Objective] The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of acid-base conditions on the mechanical properties of expansive soil. [Methods] Expansive soil from Section C003 of the Yangtze-to-Huaihe Water Diversion Project was taken as the research object. A self-developed leaching test device was employed to leach expansive soil samples with acid-base solutions of varying pH values. After leaching, the relationship between strength changes of expansive soil and pH values of solutions was investigated using critical water content tests and consolidated drained triaxial shear tests. Chemical composition analysis and X-ray diffraction tests were conducted to investigate the underlying mechanism driving the variations in physical and mechanical properties. [Results] (1) After 7-day leaching with acid and alkali solutions, the samples showed different changes in morphology and form. Specifically, during acidic solution leaching, microbubbles formed on the sample surface, which developed into numerous pores after 7 days of leaching. In contrast, during alkaline solution leaching, no significant surface changes were observed initially, but after 7 days of leaching, the samples exhibited volume expansion and white crystals formed on the surface. (2) Critical water content and triaxial compression tests revealed that after 7 days of acidic solution leaching, the physical and mechanical properties of expansive soil blocks progressively deteriorated with decreasing pH values (compared to samples leached with pH=7 solution). Specifically, as pH values decreased, the liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index decreased, the cohesion showed a significant decrease, and the internal friction angle showed a minor decrease. After 7 days of alkaline solution leaching, the physical and mechanical properties of expansive soil blocks gradually strengthened with increasing pH values (compared to samples leached with pH=7 solution). Specifically, as pH values increased, the liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index increased, the cohesion showed a significant increase, and the internal friction angle showed a slight increase. (3) XRD tests and chemical composition analysis of expansive soil blocks after acid and alkali solution leaching revealed that the interaction mechanisms between the acid and alkali solutions and the soil primarily involved ion exchange and reactions between soil minerals and solutions. These processes modified the double-layer thickness between soil particles and the content of free oxide cements and water-soluble salts, thereby changing the interparticle contact patterns and soil microstructure. After acidic solution treatment, the diffuse double-layer became thinner, the cements were dissolved, and the soil structure deteriorated, leading to progressively deteriorating physical and mechanical properties with decreasing pH. After alkaline solution treatment, the diffuse double-layer became thicker, accompanied by the formation of new cements that filled pores of various sizes inside the soil, making the soil structure more compact, leading to systematically enhanced physical and mechanical properties with increasing pH.