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Crack development in loess is an important factor for loess collapse, while cut slope unloading accelerates crack development in loess. However, the macroscopic loess reaction characteristics and meso-structural changes under unloading action have not been systematically and comprehensively explained yet. A lateral unloading test of undistributed loess samples was conducted through GDS unsaturated soil triaxial instrument to simulate the load-carrying path of loess during the loess slope excavation process, followed by analysis via CT scanning image analysis technique. This test aims to explore crack propagation laws in loess and the propagation mechanism under lateral unloading action. Test results indicate that, 1) Numerous cracks appear inside the loess samples after complete failure due to the weakening and strengthening of loess and frictional strength, respectively; 2) Elastic deformation decreases while elastoplastic and plastic deformations increase with the unloading rate. The crack propagation in loess is evident and the CT number and its variance are large when the unloading capacity and rate are substantial. The variable quantity is gradually reduced from the outer ring toward the center; 3) With the increase in unloading capacity, the CT number changes from an increasing into a declining trend, while the change trend of the CT number variance is the opposite; 4) Large coarse cracks are developed after unloading under low moisture content, but microcracks are relatively developed under high moisture content; 5) As the moisture content increases, the variable quantity of the CT number is enlarged while that of its variance is reduced. This study can provide a reference for understanding the propagation of joint cracks on loess cut slope under unloading action.

Meso-Analysis of Crack Propagation in Loess under Lateral Unloading Action