A Novel Method for Obtaining the Loess Structural Index from Computed Tomography Images: A Case Study from the Lvliang Mountains of the Loess Plateau (China)

Yaming Tang, Yinqiang Bi, Zizheng Guo, Zhengguo Li, Wei Feng, Jiayun Wang, Yane Li and Hongna Ma
Additional contact information
Yaming Tang: Xi’an Center of China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710054, China
Yinqiang Bi: Key Laboratory for Geo-hazards in Loess Area, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xi’an 710054, China
Zizheng Guo: Faculty of Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Zhengguo Li: Xi’an Center of China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710054, China
Wei Feng: Xi’an Center of China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710054, China
Jiayun Wang: Xi’an Center of China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710054, China
Yane Li: Xi’an Center of China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710054, China
Hongna Ma: Xi’an Center of China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710054, China

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: The structural index is an important quantitative parameter for revealing the structural properties of loess. However, there is no a widely accepted measurement method for structural index at present. This study aims at presenting a novel method for obtaining the loess structural index (LSI), based on the application of computed tomography (CT) scanning techniques and laboratory physico-mechanical tests. The mountainous area of Lvliang in northwest China was taken as the study area, and Late Pleistocene loess samples were taken from various sites in the region. Several physical parameters were first measured using laboratory tests, including dry density, pore ratio, and liquidity index. CT scanning was used to observe sample microstructures, and a mathematical relationship was established between CT image parameters and the physical property indices, through three dimensions (3D) reconstruction and slice porosity analysis. The results revealed that LSI can be expressed as a non-linear function related to CT image parameters, dry density, and the liquidity index of the loess. Compared with traditional calculation methods, this novel technique calculates the LSI by using an empirical formula, which is less labor-intensive. Such results indicate that the method warrants wide application in the future.

Keywords: soil structural index; computerized tomography scanning; laboratory test; image parameters; empirical formula (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/3/291/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/3/291/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:3:p:291-:d:515598

Access Statistics for this article

Land is currently edited by Ms. Carol Ma

More articles in Land from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().