Fractal study of microstructure variation of structured clays under dynamic loading

In order to understand the dynamic characteristics of the structured soft soil in Tianjin Binhai Area, dynamic triaxial test and mercury intrusion test are applied to measure microscopic features of structured clay. The microstructures of unloaded and loaded soft soils are studied by means of the mercury intrusion tests. The fractal theory is used and the fractal characteristics of pore distribution are studied through the data analysis. The method of pore classification is proposed; and the relationship between porosity feature and excellent frequency are formulated. The results indicate that the pore of structured clays under traffic loading is able to be divided into three types according to relation curve of pore diameter and volume of the structured clays. Menger sponge model can be applied to fractal research of the pore characteristics of structured clays under traffic loading. The porosity fractal dimension can be employed for predicting the excellent frequency and analyzing soil deformation mechanism under the embankment.