On Fractal-Based Estimates of Subsidence Volumes for Various Types of Soils

Abstract

In this paper we study the protracted degradation of the soil structure during technogenesis in loess and various types of silty and clay soils. We develop a new mathematical model of the degradation which is based on applying fractal theory to soils, and our modeling is mainly dealing with particle size distribution by volume. The values of the fractal dimension of the particle size distribution by volume were also calculated for various types of soils. The predicted values of the porosity coefficient in the state of complete decomposition of micro-aggregates were calculated according to the new model. The difference of the porosity coefficients in the initial (natural) and predicted states characterizes the value of the volume deformation of the soil. The particle size distribution of the samples was determined before and after several different sample preparation methods. The obtained results on volumetric deformation of loess and silty-clay soils do not contradict the known data on the deformation features of the deposits of the region formed in the epochs of interglacial and terrestrial glaciation.