Methode zur empirischen Prognose der Verformungen von sackungsanfälligen Lössböden

Method for the empirical prediction of the collapse deformations of loess soils

Research into the liability of loess ground to collapse was historically carried out at the level of individual nations, particularly between the 30s and 80s of the last century. Internationally linked research in the area of the identification of the characteristics of the soil mechanics of loess ground is only taking place since the beginning of the 80s with the formation of the Geotechnical Properties of Loess working group. The main effort of research work in the past has been in the derivation of so called Collapse Criteria for the qualitative estimation of collapse potential in relation to increasing water content. While geochemical examinations of loess soils carried out so far have described their mineral compositions, they have, however, only produced limited amounts of data about the water solubility of soil components and its influence on collapse liability.
An initial examination of water soluble components of Afghan loess soils and of the influence of their clay and chalk contents on hydroconsolidation - on the basis of parameter studies - has been carried out at the Institute for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering at the University of the Bundeswehr in Munich.
The resultant findings served as the basis for the formulation of a new, empirically derived prognosis method for the qualitative estimation of collapse-type deformations which can be expected as a consequence of hydroconsolidation.