Physical and Mechanical Behaviors of Compacted Soils under Hydraulic Loading of Wetting–Drying Cycles

Exposed geo−infrastructures filled with compacted soils experience cyclic wetting–drying effects due to environment and underground water fluctuations. Soil physical mechanical behaviors are prone deterioration a great extent, e.g., swelling, collapse, or even slope failure, resulting in huge losses human life, safety, engineering construction. In this paper, hydraulic loading tests of cycles were carried out on fine soil via one−dimensional pressure plate apparatus equipped bender elements. The influences paths the characteristics moisture content, void ratio shear modulus obtained analyzed. Results showed that weakened soil’s retention capacity. It was observed it harder for pore approach saturation at lower matric suction level be expelled higher level. Typical swelling shrinkage deformations occurred during processes, volume expansion generated after drying–wetting given value suction, which deteriorated densely relatively looser state. Then, unified soil–water characteristic surface proposed describe unique relationships ratio, suction. Moreover, small−strain soil, terms wave velocity, reduced by 32.2–35.5% 13.8–25.8% same degree first second wetting paths, respectively. Therefore, degradation from should attract particular attention avoid further distresses practical engineering.