Fatigue damage characteristics of moraine soil subjected to dynamic loading via the energy dissipation method

Abstract

The evolution mechanism of the dynamic response and failure mode of moraines under dynamic loading is unclear because of the special structure of mixed coarse and fine particles and sharp edges. This work established a novel fatigue parameter (a) and a fatigue damage model for a moraine on the basis of its strain development mechanism and energy dissipation observed through cyclic loading experiments. The strain mode, dynamic strength characteristics and fatigue damage development process of the moraine were investigated. The fatigue parameters reflect the speed of fatigue damage, and the fatigue damage model describes the development process and characteristics of fatigue damage. The results revealed that the moraine exhibited a strain hardening mode and fatigue damage under low cyclic loading, and the fatigue life was related to the particle size and water content. The dynamic strength is positively correlated with the coarse particle size and negatively correlated with the water content. Furthermore, the fatigue parameters are positively correlated with the dynamic stress and negatively correlated with the particle size. The fatigue parameters converge when the water content is 8%. The fatigue parameters are influenced by the particles, water content and stress. Under different dynamic stresses, water contents and particle sizes, the moraine exhibited three fatigue damage development modes, including convex, linear and concave fatigue damage. Moreover, the development of convex damage was rapid in the early stage, and concave damage was rapid in the late stage. At a low fatigue parameter (a<1.43), the moraine exhibited convex fatigue damage, whereas the moraine exhibited concave fatigue damage at high fatigue parameters (a>1.9). This work can provide a reference for disaster assessment and prevention of moraine slopes in complex environments.

Keywords

moraine / dynamic triaxial test / fatigue damage characteristics / fatigue parameters / fatigue damage model

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