Non-invasive 3D analysis of local soil deformation under mechanical and hydraulic stresses by μCT and digital image correlation

authored by: S. Peth, J. Nellesen, G. Fischer, R. Horn
Abstract: Soil deformation is a perpetual process in the pedosphere where besides physicochemical stresses primarily alternating hydraulic and mechanical stresses continuously re-arrange the configuration of solid particles. In this study we present a local strain analysis and changes in soil structure resulting from hydraulic and mechanical stresses based on X-ray microtomography data. Digital image reconstructions were used to quantify local structural pore space characteristics and local soil deformation by 3D morphological and correlation analysis of grayscale tomograms. Swelling and shrinkage resulted in a complex heterogeneous soil structure which proofed to be very stable when mechanical loads were applied. The mechanism of soil deformation for both structure formation by internal hydraulic stresses and structure degradation by external mechanical stresses were in both cases controlled by pre-existing (micro)-structures. Especially during wetting such structures served as a nucleus for subsequent structure evolution. The results demonstrate the potential of more detailed non-invasive micromechanical analysis of soil deformation processes which could improve the conceptual understanding of the physical behavior of soil systems.
External Organisation(s): Kiel University
RIF-Institut für Forschung und Transfer
Type: Article
Journal: Soil and Tillage Research
Volume: 111
Pages: 3-18
No. of pages: 16
ISSN: 0167-1987
Publication date: 12.2010
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Agronomy and Crop Science, Soil Science, Earth-Surface Processes
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2010.02.007 (Access: Unknown)

BibTeX

@article{7b7d39acc6ce421585b401ca94cc1596,
title = "Non-invasive 3D analysis of local soil deformation under mechanical and hydraulic stresses by μCT and digital image correlation",
abstract = "Soil deformation is a perpetual process in the pedosphere where besides physicochemical stresses primarily alternating hydraulic and mechanical stresses continuously re-arrange the configuration of solid particles. In this study we present a local strain analysis and changes in soil structure resulting from hydraulic and mechanical stresses based on X-ray microtomography data. Digital image reconstructions were used to quantify local structural pore space characteristics and local soil deformation by 3D morphological and correlation analysis of grayscale tomograms. Swelling and shrinkage resulted in a complex heterogeneous soil structure which proofed to be very stable when mechanical loads were applied. The mechanism of soil deformation for both structure formation by internal hydraulic stresses and structure degradation by external mechanical stresses were in both cases controlled by pre-existing (micro)-structures. Especially during wetting such structures served as a nucleus for subsequent structure evolution. The results demonstrate the potential of more detailed non-invasive micromechanical analysis of soil deformation processes which could improve the conceptual understanding of the physical behavior of soil systems.",
keywords = "3D correlation analysis, Image analysis, Soil compaction, Soil mechanics, Stress-strain relationships, X-ray microtomography",
author = "S. Peth and J. Nellesen and G. Fischer and R. Horn",
year = "2010",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1016/j.still.2010.02.007",
language = "English",
volume = "111",
pages = "3--18",
journal = "Soil and Tillage Research",
issn = "0167-1987",
publisher = "Elsevier",
number = "1",
}