Experimental study of strain-temperature behavior of earthen materials under freezing-thawing cycles

Earthen constructions can experience severe damage under coupled action of moistening and freezing-thawing (F-T). This paper proposes an experimental study on the F-T behavior earthen samples at different liquid saturation degrees (SL0). Normal moisture conditions during winter were investigated using two values relative humidity (RH): RH = 75% 95% which led to levels lower than 35% for tested earth. Pathological walls studied with high (SL0 75%, SL0 85% 95%). Axial strain temperature measured 12 cycles conducted between +10 ∘C − 20 ∘C. An device was designed maintain axial stress 0 or 100 kPa test reproduce loading top basement wall. The measurement strains shows that did not exhibit any effect normal conditions. results indicated deformations depend mainly initial saturation. A microstructural approach identify necessary in porous materials. Shrinkage freezing expansion thawing observed range this study. mechanism attributed drying shrinkage clay particles due cryo-suction process ice formation. significantly increased residual developed first cycles. Two creep tests +20 concluded induced a combined unsaturated