Experimental study on the mechanical properties of clayey soil under different freezing apparatus temperatures and freeze-thaw cycles

The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanical properties of clayey soil with different moisture contents. Two groups of clayey soil with different moisture contents were prepared as samples. One group of samples was subjected to eleven freeze-thaw cycles under a constant freezing apparatus temperature in an enclosed apparatus. The other group was subjected to one freeze-thaw cycle exposed to a decreasing freezing apparatus temperature in an enclosed apparatus. A series of triaxial compression experiments were conducted on both groups of samples. The first experimental results indicated that the mechanical properties of the clayey soil changed after the freeze-thaw cycles under constant freezing apparatus temperature, and cohesion decreased with an increased number of freeze-thaw cycles and increased moisture content. In addition, the internal friction angle increased with the number of freeze-thaw cycles and decreased with increased moisture content.However, the moisture content of the clayey soil had a greater influence on cohesion than the internal friction angle. Additional experimental group results indicated that the internal friction angle of the clayey soil diminished with a decrease in the freezing apparatus temperature and increased moisture content. Finally, cohesion increased with a decrease in either the freezing apparatus temperature or moisture content.