Xiushao Zhao¹, Jianglong Rao¹, Qijing Yang^1,2,*, Yu Rong³, Zhitao Fu¹, Zhiyao Wang¹, Zixi Chen¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.5, pp. 1287-1305, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.017473

Abstract Completely weathered phyllite (CWP) has the characteristics of difficult compaction, low shear strength after compaction and large settlement after construction. The traditional improvement method using a single agent of red clay or cement for CWP satisfies the subgrade requirements for ordinary railway, but cannot meet the requirements of immediate strength and long-term post-construction settlement of high-speed railway at the same time. A series of experimental investigations were undertaken for the blended CWP soils, with three additives used. The first additive was red clay, the second was cement and the third was a combination of both red clay and cement at… More > Graphic Abstract

Manh Duc Nguyen¹, Ha Nguyen Hai¹, Nadhir Al-Ansari^2,*, Mahdis Amiri³, Hai-Bang Ly⁴, Indra Prakash⁵, Binh Thai Pham^4,*

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.130, No.1, pp. 149-166, 2022, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2022.017355

Abstract One of the important geotechnical parameters required for designing of the civil engineering structure is the compressibility of the soil. In this study, the main purpose is to develop a novel hybrid Machine Learning (ML) model (ANFIS-DE), which used Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm to optimize the predictive capability of Adaptive-Network-based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS), for estimating soil Compression coefficient (Cc) from other geotechnical parameters namely Water Content, Void Ratio, Specific Gravity, Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, Clay content and Depth of Soil Samples. Validation of the predictive capability of the novel model was carried out using statistical indices: Root Mean Square… More >

Xiushao Zhao¹, Qijing Yang^1,2,*, Jianglong Rao¹, Daxin Geng¹, Zhouyong Tan¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.1, pp. 203-218, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015854

Abstract Completely weathered phyllite (CWP) soil is a kind of special soil with high swell potential, while red clay is a special soil with high shrinkage. This means that these two kinds of special soils are usually not suitable for direct use as subgrade fill. To reduce the swell index of the CWP soil and the shrinkage of red clay at the same time, it was proposed to blend the CWP soil with red clay to improve their basic characteristics. A series of swell index tests and dry-wet cycle tests of the blended soils have been carried out at varying blending… More > Graphic Abstract

Zhiyu Weng¹, Lina Wang^1,2,*, Qiang Liu², Xuemin Pan¹, Yonghao Xu³, Jing Li¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.8, pp. 1503-1517, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.015003

Abstract To explore an environmentally friendly improvement measure for red clay, the function and mechanism of xanthan gum biopolymer and polypropylene fibers on the strength properties of red clay were investigated by unconfined compressive strength and scanning electron microscopy tests. The test results demonstrated that the contents and curing ages of xanthan gum had significant influences on the unconfined compressive strength of red clay. Compared with untreated soil, 1.5% xanthan gum content was the optimal ratio in which the strength increment was between 41.52 kPa and 64.73 kPa. On the other hand, the strength of xanthan gum-treated red clay increased, whereas… More >

Jili Qu^*, Hao Zhu^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.9, No.4, pp. 767-787, 2021, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.013816

Abstract Palm fiber is one of the favorable materials used in stabilization of soft soil in geotechnical engineering projects in recent years due to its nature of sustainability, no harm to the environment, biodegradability, availability and cost-effectiveness in the context of widespread appeal from the world for returning to nature and protecting the earth our homestead. This paper is aimed at exploring the mechanical performance of Shanghai clayey soil reinforced with palm fiber. The unconfined compressive tests are carried out on samples treated with palm fibers of different lengths and contents, and the unconfined compressive strength (UCS), ductility rate (DR), secant… More >

Alhan Sariyev¹, Celaleddin Barutcular^2,*, Mert Acar¹, Akbar Hossain³, Ayman EL Sabagh^2,4,5,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.89, No.3, pp. 519-528, 2020, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2020.09142

Abstract Maize being sub-tropical crop is sensitive to water deficit during the early growth stages; particularly clay-rich soil, due to the compaction of the soil. It is well-documented that potential sub-surface drip irrigation (SDI) (Full irrigation; SDIFull (100% field capacity (FC)), Deficit irrigation; SDIDeficit (70% FC)) improves water use efficiency, which leads to increased crop productivity; since it has a constraint that SDI excludes soil air around the root-zone during irrigation events, which alter the root function and crop performance. Additionally, in clayrich soils, the root system of plants generally suffers the limitation of oxygen, particularly the temporal hypoxia, and occasionally… More >

Chengbao Hu^{1, 2, 3}, Liang Wang⁴, Daosheng Ling^{1, 2, 3, *}, Wujun Cai⁵, Zhijie Huang^{1, 2}, Shilin Gong^{1, 2, 3}

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.123, No.1, pp. 283-307, 2020, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2020.07842

Abstract This paper performed flexural test and numerical simulation of clay-beams with different water contents to study the tensile fracture of clay soil and the relevant mechanisms. The crack initiation and propagation process and the accompanied strain localization behaviors were all clearly observed and analyzed. The exponential cohesive zone model was proposed to simulate the crack interface behavior of the cohesivefrictional materials. The experimental results show that the bending capacity of claybeams decrease with the water content, while those of the crack mouth opening displacement, crack-tip strain and the strain localization range increase. The numerical predictions successfully reproduce the evolving tensile… More >

Roohalah Hajizadeh¹, Ali Khavanin^2,*, Mohammad Barmar³, Ahmad Jonidi Jafari⁴, Somayeh Farhang Dehghan⁵

Sound & Vibration, Vol.53, No.5, pp. 207-222, 2019, DOI:10.32604/sv.2019.06523

Abstract Polyurethane foam as the most well-known absorbent materials has a suitable absorption coefficient only within a limited frequency range. The aim of this study was to improve the sound absorption coefficient of flexible polyurethane (PU) foam within the range of various frequencies using clay nanoparticles, polyacrylonitrile nanofibers, and polyvinylidene fluoride nanofibers. The response surface method was used to determine the effect of addition of nanofi- bers of PAN and PVDF, addition of clay nanoparticles, absorbent thickness, and air gap on the sound absorption coefficient of flexible polyurethane foam (PU) across different frequency ranges. The absorption coefficient of the samples was… More >

LI Tao, Gao Jian, ZHANG Yi-ping

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 75-76, 2011, DOI:10.3970/icces.2011.018.075

Abstract This paper presents a method for the large strain consolidation analysis of soft-clay road embankment with stochastic parameters to random excitation. Based on the large strain theory of continuum material, Biot consolidation theory and Neumann stochastic finite element method (NSFEM), the large strain consolidation NSFEM (LSC-NSFEM) has been established. A program of LSC-NSFEM is designed to analyze soft-clay road embankment. The residue iteration method is used to deal with the nonlinear fluctuating part of stiffness matrix, and the approximate algorithm of the fluctuating part of stiffness matrix is designed to improve LSC-NSFEM program efficiency. More >

B. Benobeidallah¹, A. Benhamida¹, A. Dorigato^2,*, A. Sola³, M. Messori³, A. Pegoretti²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.1, pp. 89-102, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.00136

Abstract Various amounts (up to 10 wt%) of palygorskite nanofibers functionalized by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) coupling agent were used to reinforce polyamide 11 nanocomposites prepared by melt compounding. The covalent bonding of the silane on the palygorskite surface was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. X-ray diffraction revealed the retention of the α-form of polyamide crystals upon the addition of both natural and silane treated palygorskite nanorods. All the investigated nanocomposites showed an improvement of the thermal stability, especially when surface treated palygorskite nanofibers were considered. Tensile tests and dynamic mechanical thermal analyses on the prepared materials evidenced how the incorporation… More >