Comparison and quantitative analysis of microstructure parameters between original loess and remoulded loess under different wetting-drying cycles

The microstructural evolution of loess had a significant impact on the collapsibility of loess during wetting-drying cycles. Based on the analysis of scanning electron microscope (SEM) images by using Image-Pro Plus, the present study quantitatively compared the microstructural parameters of original loess and remoulded loess with different moisture content before and after wetting-drying cycles in size, shape, and arrangement. In size, the average diameter of both original loess particles and remoulded loess particles increased with the increasing of initial moisture content. However, the average diameter of original loess particles was slightly larger than that of remoulded loess particles before wetting-drying cycles. In contrast, the average diameter of both original loess particles and remoulded loess particles were very close to each other after three wetting-drying cycles. In shape, before wetting-drying cycles, the average shape factor of original loess particles was higher than that of remoulded loess particles. After three wetting-drying cycles, the difference in the average shape factor of both two loess samples with 5% initial moisture content is similar to that before wetting-drying cycles. Nevertheless, the average shape factor of both original loess particles and remouled loess particles with 15% initial moisture content were very close to that with 25% initial moisture content. In the arrangement, directional frequency indicated remoulded loess appeared to be more vertically aligned than original before and after three wetting-drying cycles. Furthermore, the directed anisotropy rate of remoulded loess was higher than that of the original loess before and after three wetting-drying cycles. In summary, the size, shape, and arrangement of both original loess particles and remoulded loess particles varied in different degrees before and after three wetting-drying cycles. Combined with the water retention curve of the loess, we analyzed the microstructural evolution mechanism of two loess particles during wetting-drying cycles. It is an excellent significance to study the engineering properties of original loess and remoulded loess.