Experimental Study of Elastic Properties of Saturated Clay Subjected to Freeze-Thaw Cycles

This research aims to investigate shear wave velocity and small-strain shear modulus of saturated thawed clay. Various numbers of no-water supplied freeze-thaw cycling were experienced on the saturated clay firstly, then the wave velocity measurement setup was employed to carried out a series of non-destroyed wave velocity tests on each sample. During which, one pairs of BE were install on the top surface as transmitter and another on bottom surface as receiver, respectively, and another two pairs of BE were installed on horizontal direction. The effects of compaction degree and numbers of freeze-thaw cycles on elastic properties for vertical and horizontal direction were analyzed and discussed. The results indicate that initial density and freeze-thaw cycling exhibits a notable effect on elastic properties. The shear wave velocity and small strain shear modulus in vertical direction are greater than in horizontal direction, and both of them increase with increasing of initial density. However, they decrease after various numbers of freeze-thaw cycles and sharply drop at 1^st F-T.