Experimental and quantitative study on micro-structure of soft soil in Suzhou

Abstract

Based on division of the engineering geological strata groups of Eastern Plain area in Suzhou City of China, we identify two soft soil strata among them, which will bring negative impacts on local underground construction. In order to obtain digital micro-structure images of undisturbed soft soil by SEM, free piston thin wall sampler and frozen drying-paste method are used for preparation of the specimens. By utilizing the micro-image processing software of Mifas, we can get the quantitative indicators of the SEM images, such as the index of directionality and eccentricity of particles. It is found that the microscopic structure analysis of two soft soils could appropriately explain their macro-mechanical differences. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.