A Novel Analytical-Statistical-Numerical Framework for Investigating the Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Behavior of Heterogeneous Subsidence Phenomena, Moisture and Temperature Variations in Cracked Soils Under Soil-Atmosphere Interaction

Document Type : Article

Authors

Department of Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

This study presents an analytical–statistical–numerical framework to examine the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) behaviour and the resulting heterogeneous subsidence and swelling of desiccation-cracked expansive soils under realistic soil–atmosphere interactions. Desiccation cracks, by creating preferential pathways for water and vapour, significantly alter the near-surface hydraulic and thermal regimes, leading to non-uniform moisture distribution and temperature gradients. The study employs a statistical characterisation of crack geometry, including crack width, depth and ratio, based on log-normal and Gaussian probability distributions, and applies climatic data from Qom as time-dependent Neumann boundary conditions. The modelling results demonstrate that cracked ground experiences up to 4.6-fold greater cumulative subsidence compared with uncracked ground, and the spatial variability of deformation strongly depends on crack geometry and spacing. Narrow cracks induce intense local desiccation and deep suction zones, whereas wide cracks promote infiltration and transient swelling during rainfall events. The distinctive pattern of concave deformation during wetting and convex deformation during drying highlights the complex cyclic behaviour of cracked soils. The developed framework provides a physically consistent and practical approach to evaluate climate-driven subsidence hazards in expansive soils.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

1. Sadeghi, H., Jabbarzadeh, M. and Tourchi, S., 2024. Thermo-hydro-mechanical modelling of the heterogeneous subsidence and swelling in the desiccation cracked clayey strata. Engineering Geology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2024.107798
2. Konrad, J.M. and Ayad, R.J.C.G.J., 1997. Desiccation of a sensitive clay: field experimental observations. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 34(6), pp.929-942. https://doi.org/10.1139/t97-063
3. Wei, X., Hattab, M., Bompard, P. and Fleureau, J.M., 2016. Highlighting some mechanisms of crack formation and propagation in clays on drying path. Géotechnique, 66(4), pp.287-300. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.14.P.227
4. Jabbarzadeh, M., Sadeghi, H., Tourchi, S. and Darzi, A.G., 2024. Thermo-hydraulic analysis of desiccation cracked soil strata considering ground temperature and moisture dynamics under the influence of soil-atmosphere interactions. Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment, 38, pp.100558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gete.2024.100558
5. Nowamooz, H. and Masrouri, F., 2008. Hydromechanical behaviour of an expansive bentonite/silt mixture in cyclic suction-controlled drying and wetting tests. Engineering Geology, 101(3-4), pp.154-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2008.04.011
6. Ghandilou, M.J., Tourchi, S. and Sadeghi, H., 2023. Numerical investigation of cyclic wetting and drying of Boom clay based on the Barcelona Expansive Model”. In 84th EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition, pp. 1-5. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.202310400
7. Tang, C.S., Cheng, Q., Gong, X., Shi, B. and Inyang, H.I., 2023. Investigation on microstructure evolution of clayey soils: A review focusing on wetting/drying process. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 15(1), pp.269-284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2022.02.004
8. Tourchi, S., Jabbarzadeh, M. and Sadeghi, H., 2024. Thermo-hydro-mechanical analysis of soil strata suffered from desiccation cracking. In Geotechnical Engineering Challenges to Meet Current and Emerging Needs of Society, pp. 1362-1367, CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003431749-249
9. Wang, G. and Wei, X., 2015. Modeling swelling–shrinkage behavior of compacted expansive soils during wetting–drying cycles. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 52(6), pp.783-794. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2014-0059@cgj-ec.2015.01.issue-4
10. Huang, Q. and Azam, S., 2023. Modeling of Weather-Induced Volumetric Changes in Cracked Expansive Clays. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 41(2), pp.861-879. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-022-02310-7
11. Tourchi, S., Jabbarzadeh, M., Lavasan, A., Sadeghi, H. and Racek, O., 2024. Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Dynamics of a Rock Slope: Integrated Field and Numerical Analysis. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2024.09.052
12. Morris, P.H., Graham, J. and Williams, D.J., 1992. Cracking in drying soils. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 29(2), pp.263-277. https://doi.org/10.1139/t92-030
13. Philip, L., Shimell, H., Hewitt, P.J. and Ellard, H.T., 2002. A field-based test cell examining clay desiccation in landfill liners. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 35(4), pp.345-354. https://doi.org/10.1144/1470-9236/2001-37
14. Miller, C.J., Mi, H. and Yesiller, N., 1998. Experimental analysis of desiccation crack propagation in clay liners. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 34(3), pp.677-686. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.1998.tb00964.x
15. Amarasiri, A.L. and Kodikara, J.K., 2013. Numerical modelling of a field desiccation test. Géotechnique, 63(11), pp.983-986. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.12.P.010
16. Guo, L., Chen, G., Ding, L., Zheng, L. and Gao, J., 2023. Numerical simulation of full desiccation process of clayey soils using an extended DDA model with soil suction consideration. Computers and Geotechnics, 153, p.105107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2022.105107
17. Sánchez, M., Manzoli, O.L. and Guimarães, L.J., 2014. Modeling 3-D desiccation soil crack networks using a mesh fragmentation technique. Computers and Geotechnics, 62, pp.27-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2014.06.009
18. Tran, D.K., Ralaizafisoloarivony, N., Charlier, R., Mercatoris, B., Léonard, A., Toye, D. and Degré, A., 2019. Studying the effect of desiccation cracking on the evaporation process of a Luvisol–Fr om a small-scale experimental and numerical approach. Soil and Tillage Research, 193, pp.142-152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2019.05.018
19. Haghighat, N., Sattari, A.S. and Wuttke, F., 2023. Finite discrete element modeling of desiccation fracturing in partially saturated porous medium. Computers and Geotechnics, 164, p.105761. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2023.105761
20. Olivella, S., Gens, A., Carrera, J. and Alonso, E.E., 1996. Numerical formulation for a simulator (CODE_BRIGHT) for the coupled analysis of saline media. Engineering computations, 13(7), pp.87-112. https://doi.org/10.1108/02644409610151575
21. Olivella, S., Carrera, J., Gens, A. and Alonso, E.E., 1994. Nonisothermal multiphase flow of brine and gas through saline media. Transport in porous media, 15, pp.271-293. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00613282
22. Volckaert, G., Bernier, F., Alonso, E., Gens, A., 1996. Thermal-hydraulic-mechanical and geochemical behaviour of the clay barrier in radioactive waste repositories (model development and validation).
23. Mualem, Y., 1976. A new model for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated porous media. Water resources research, 12(3), pp.513-522. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR012i003p00513
24. Van Genuchten, M.T., 1980. A closed‐form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils. Soil science society of America journal, 44(5), pp.892-898. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1980.03615995004400050002x
25. Alonso, E.E., Vaunat, J. and Gens, A., 1999. Modelling the mechanical behaviour of expansive clays. Engineering geology, 54(1-2), pp.173-183. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7952(99)00079-4
26. Ghandilou, M.J., Tourchi, S., Darzi, A.G. and Sadeghi, H., 2023. Numerical modeling of volumetric behavior of unsaturated expansive soil under wetting and drying cycles. In 5th Iranian Conference on Geotechnical Engineering. https://www. researchgate. net/publication/377265206
27. Gens, A. and Alonso, E.E., 1992. A framework for the behaviour of unsaturated expansive clays. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 29(6), pp.1013-1032. https://doi.org/10.1139/t92-120
28. Blight, G.E. Interactions between the atmosphere and the earth. Géotechnique, 47, pp.715-67. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1997.47.4.713
29. Tourchi, S., Jabbarzadeh, M., Sadeghi, H. and Lavasan, A.A., 2024. Thermo-hydro-mechanical modelling of rock cliff-atmosphere interaction: the case of the Pozary test site in Czechia. In No. EGU24-20407, Copernicus Meetings. https://doi. org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-20407.
30. Valipour, M., Jabbarzadeh, M., Sadeghi, H., Roghangar, K., 2024. Volumetric behavior of a soil column subjected to freeze-thaw cycles under coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical conditions. In GeoMontréal 2024. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384431981
31. Sellers, P.J., Mintz, Y.C., Sud, Y.E., Dalcher, A., 1986. A simple biosphere model (SiB) for use within general circulation models. Journal of the atmospheric sciences. 43, pp.505-31. https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1986)043<0505:ASBMFU>2.0.CO;2
32. Samat, S., 2016. Thermomechanical modelling of ground response under environmental actions. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.
33. Mahsuli, M. and Haukaas, T., 2013. Computer program for multimodel reliability and optimization analysis. Journal of computing in civil engineering, 27, pp.87-98. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CP.1943-5487.0000204
34. Adams, J.E. and Hanks, R.J., 1964. Evaporation from soil shrinkage cracks. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 28, pp.281-284. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1964.03615995002800020043x
35. Selim, H.M. and Kirkham, D., 1970. Soil temperature and water content changes during drying as influenced by cracks: A laboratory experiment. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 34, pp.565-569. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1970.03615995003400040010x
36. Ritchie, J.T. and Adams, J.E., 1974. Field measurement of evaporation from soil shrinkage cracks. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 38, pp.131-134. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1974.03615995003800010040x
37. Hatano, R., Nakamoto, H., Sakuma, T. and Okajima, H., 1988. Evapotranspiration in cracked clay field soil. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 34, pp.547-555. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.1988.10416470
38. Poulsen, T.G., Cai, W. and Garg, A., 2020. Water evaporation from cracked soil under moist conditions as related to crack properties and near‐surface wind speed. European Journal of Soil Science, 71, pp.627-640. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.12926
39. Ferreira, S.R.D.M., Araújo, A.G.D.D., Barbosa, F.A.S., Silva, T.C.R. and Bezerra, I.M.D.L., 2020. Analysis of changes in volume and propagation of cracks in expansive soil due to changes in water content. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo, 44. https://doi.org/10.36783/18069657rbcs20190169
40. Zeng, H., Tang, C.S., Zhu, C., Vahedifard, F., Cheng, Q. and Shi, B., 2022. Desiccation cracking of soil subjected to different environmental relative humidity conditions. Engineering Geology, 297, p.106536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2022.106536
41. Poulsen, T.G., 2022. Predicting evaporation from moist, cracked soil, based on near‐surface wind speed, crack width and crack distance. European Journal of Soil Science, 73, p.e13215. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.13215
42. Delage, P., Sultan, N. and Cui, Y.J., 2000. On the thermal consolidation of Boom clay. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 37, pp.343-354. https://doi.org/10.1139/t99-105
43. Bernier, F., Li, X.L., Bastiaens, W., 2007. Twenty-five years’ geotechnical observation and testing in the Tertiary Boom Clay format. InStiff Sedimentary Clays: Genesis and Engineering Behaviour, Géotechnique, pp.223-231. https://doi.org/10.1680/ssc.41080.0020
44. Sánchez, M., Gens, A., do Nascimento Guimarães, L. and Olivella, S., 2005. A double structure generalized plasticity model for expansive materials. International Journal for numerical and analytical methods in geomechanics. 29, pp.751-787. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.434
45. Sadeghi, H., Darzi, A.G., Voosoghi, B., Garakani, A.A., Ghorbani, Z., Mojtahedi, S.F.F., 2023. Assessing the vulnerability of Iran to subsidence hazard using a hierarchical FUCOM-GIS framework. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, 31, p.100989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2023.100989
46. De Bruyn, D., Labat, S., 2002. The second phase of ATLAS: the continuation of a running THM test in the HADES underground research facility at Mol. Engineering Geology, 64, pp.309-316. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7952(01)00109-0
47. Badache M, Eslami-Nejad P, Ouzzane M, Aidoun Z, Lamarche L., 2016. A new modeling approach for improved ground temperature profile determination. Renewable Energy, 85, pp.436–444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2015.06.020

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics