Unconfined compression tests on thawing soil

Through the unconfined compression tests on a thawing soil using an SLB-1 triaxial apparatus,the strength and stress-strain behaviors were analyzed,considering the influence of water content,cooling temperature and thawing temperature on the top of samples.The following conclusions could be drawn: ① Thawing soil with the optimum water content had the highest strength under the same cooling and thawing temperature.A high-order polynomial relationship was found between the strength and water content,which could be used to predict the strength of thawing soil.② Under the same water content and thawing temperature,the decrease in cooling temperature would increase the strength and strain at failure.③ At the same cooling temperature,the soil with high water content failed at large strain;the soil with low water content failed at small strains.④ An empirical model was deduced for describing the stress-strain relationship,showing good agreement with the test data.