Static Mechanical Properties of Aeolian Sand Improved with Silt Subjected to Varying Temperature and Pressure

Delineating the mechanical characteristics of aeolian sand improved with silt under temperature action is of great significance for the construction and long-term operation of engineering materials in seasonal frozen areas. Against the backdrop of aeolian sand resource utilization in the western region, local obtainable wind turbine sand and silt were used as raw materials, and a series of triaxial compression tests were conducted on aeolian sand improved with silt through temperature-controlled triaxial testers. The experimental parameters were as follows: silt content of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%; confining pressures of 100 kPa, 200 kPa, and 300 kPa; and temperatures of room temperature, 0 °C, −5 °C, −10 °C, and −15 °C. The results of the experiment demonstrated that the interaction between silt dosage, confining pressure, and temperature effects significantly influenced the triaxial compression strength of aeolian sand improved with silt. As the dosage of silt increased from 0% to 15%, the peak strength of the samples rose by 7.72% to 18.03%. This maximum increase occurred at a silt dosage of 15%. With the increase in confining pressures, the stress–strain relationship curve for the sample exhibits strain softening characteristics. Under varying temperatures, the samples exhibited a consistent pattern of initial shrinkage followed by subsequent expansion. As temperatures decrease, cohesive forces exhibit a wavelike pattern in their variation, with an essentially constant internal friction angle. The research results can provide theoretical support for the selection of building materials in the northwest region, address the issue of regional material shortages, and improve the application of aeolian sand in seasonally frozen areas.

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