Objective This study aims to determine the key hydraulic parameters of unsaturated loess under different initial wet densities, investigate the variation patterns of its soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC), and examine their impact on the parameters of the van Genuchten (V-G) model, thereby providing a new perspective for elucidating the mechanism by which the initial pore structure regulates water retention. Methods Pressure plate tests and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tests were conducted to analyze the SWCC of loess under different initial wet density conditions, investigate their influence on the parameters of the V-G model, and obtain the pore water distribution characteristics of the samples. Results (1) In the boundary effect zone, the slope of the SWCC decreased as K and w0 increased. In the transition zone, the slope decreased as K and w0 decreased, leading to a faster descending rate of the SWCC curve and an accelerated water loss of the specimens. In the residual zone, the SWCCs gradually converged, and the residual value increased with increasing K and w0. (2) The parameter ψ0 of the air-entry value showed a linear positive relationship with K and an exponential relationship with w0. ψ0 increased with the increase of w0. The parameters of the V-G model α were logarithmically related to K and linearly related to w0. K and w0 had little influence on parameters m and n. Based on the V-G model, the SWCC model considering the coupling of saturation and compaction degree, and saturation and initial moisture content was modified. (3) As K increased, the pore structure within the soil transformed from more open pores to more uniform small and medium-sized pores. Water became more difficult to discharge within the soil, resulting in a decreased water loss rate, an increased air-entry value, and stronger water retention capacity. The T2 spectra of low w0 samples were mainly unimodal, and those of high w0 samples were mainly bimodal. With the increase of w0, the number of small pores increased and the connectivity between pores decreased, restricting the movement of water molecules and making water more difficult to discharge. Therefore, the air-entry value of the samples increased and their water retention capacity was enhanced. Conclusion The differences in the micro-pore structure (changes in size distribution and pore connectivity) of loess under different initial conditions are the key to the changes in its macroscopic water retention capacity.
此外,非饱和孔隙介质中水分的分布状态对岩土材料的持水特性也有重要影响[9],而非饱和土的孔隙结构是导致水分赋存状态不同的主要原因[10]。大多学者借助微观技术以建立孔隙结构参数与持水性之间的联系,例如张亚国等[11]利用电镜扫描技术(Scanning Electron Microscopy, SEM)发现随埋深的增大,黄土优势孔径及其分布密度减小,SWCC的饱和段增长,进气值增大,过渡段变缓,持水能力增强。Ma[12]、何芳婵[13]等借助压汞技术,探究了膨胀土在干湿循环过程中吸附水和毛细水随吸力的变化规律。Wen等[14]使用CT技术发现,微小孔隙的空间变化和复杂的孔隙结构有助于提高试样的保水能力。而黄土作为特殊性土,内部结构可能更为复杂,SEM技术难以定量观测孔径分布曲线;而压汞法会在一定程度上损坏试样的初始结构[15];CT主要通过灰度图像重构孔隙形态,依赖于算法;而且CT对孔隙内水分状态的敏感性也较低[16];而核磁共振技术通过检测氢质子的弛豫时间(如T2谱)直接反映孔隙内水分状态,能够区分不同孔隙尺寸,并进一步分析束缚水与自由水的分布,能从微观上更好地解释黄土的持水机制。
核磁共振试验(Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, NMR)原理:NMR基于原子核在磁场中的自旋特性和电磁波的相互作用。NMR通过检测氢核在外磁场中的弛豫时间(如横向弛豫时间T2,纵向弛豫时间T1)来反映其微观环境。表面弛豫发生在多孔介质的颗粒表面上,当孔隙很小时,表面弛豫很缓慢,导致分子能在孔隙中往返多次,T1和T2的表面弛豫速率如下式:
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