Cementation plays a crucial role in stabilizing the open structures formed during aeolian deposition in loess. However, the specific effects of different cementation types on collapsibility and structural integrity remain unclear. This study employs simplified materials to simulate the aeolian deposition and cementation processes of loess, and examines the influence of cementation on structure and collapsibility through one-dimensional compression and collapse tests, along with small-strain stiffness (G0) measurements. SEM-EDS analyses confirm that the prepared samples replicate the open structure and cementation characteristics of natural loess. Initial G0 values demonstrate that cementation enhances small-strain stiffness, with CaCO3 showing the most significant effect. Despite its lower content, NaCl cementation also has a notable impact. Cementation type influences collapsibility differently: NaCl and clay cementation increase collapsibility, with compression curves merging to the normal consolidation line (NCL) after wetting, indicating structural degradation. In contrast, CaCO3 cementation reduces collapsibility, and G0 remains relatively stable post-immersion, suggesting its dominant role in structural formation. SEM observations and small-strain stiffness parameters provide further insights into particle-scale mechanisms. This study elucidates the role of different cementation types in sediment structure formation and stabilization, offering valuable implications for understanding and mitigating loess collapsibility.
Xu et al. (Thu,) studied this question.