Freeze-thaw effects on pore structure of clay by 3D X-ray computed tomography and mercury intrusion porosimetry

Thaw settlement of soils is a comprehensive reflection of multiscale pore changes induced by freeze-thaw (F-T). In this study, three-dimensional (3D) X-ray computed tomography (CT) tests were utilized to investigate alterations in the macropore and mesopore structures, while mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) tests were used to examine the micropore structure in clay due to F-T influenced by different freezing temperatures without water supply. The maximum increase in CT transverse-sectional porosity after F-T can be used to identify where ice lenses formed most abundantly in the clay after thawing, and the diameter and horizontal orientation of the macropores exhibit the most significant increase after thawing. As the freezing temperature decreases, the location becomes farther from the cold end. Macropores are significantly more affected by F-T compared to mesopores, and changes in macropore porosity and diameter can be attributed to moisture migration and freezing shrinkage, with lower freezing temperatures amplifying the influence of freezing shrinkage and weakening the impact of moisture migration. Considering the small size of samples, the MIP porosity was defined to analyze the effects of F-T on the micropores. Compared to the CT volumeratic porosity, the influence of F-T on micropore porosity is less significant. As the freezing temperature decreases, the changes in micropore diameter become smaller. Overall, the lower the freezing temperature, the smaller the changes in macropores, mesopores and micropores. Lastly, a method is proposed for predicting the mass porosity based on the CT volumetric porosity and MIP porosity. This study demonstrates that changes in soil mass porosity reflect a comprehensive representation of multiscale pore variations and provides important theoretical support for thaw settlement control in artificial freezing engineering.