Scientific Development Research

The collapsibility of unsaturated loess is one of the major issues affecting engineering construction in loess areas. Studying the quantitative relationship between its collapsibility coefficient and matric suction is helpful for more accurately evaluating the engineering properties and collapsible characteristics of loess. In this paper, through laboratory tests, collapsibility tests under different matric suction conditions were conducted to explore the relationship between collapsibility coefficient and matric suction. The test results show that the collapsibility coefficient of unsaturated loess changes with matric suction in an obvious regular pattern, and the increase of matric suction leads to changes in the collapsibility coefficient. Based on the experimental data, a quantitative relationship model between collapsibility coefficient and matric suction was established, providing a scientific basis for engineering design and construction.

Unsaturated loess; Collapsibility coefficient; Matric suction; Quantitative relationship; Engineering properties