In the frosty expanses of cold regions, where water infiltration and temperature shifts wreak havoc on soil structures, a team of researchers from Beijing Jiaotong University has uncovered a promising solution to bolster frost and seepage resistance. Led by Dr. Li Lu from the School of Civil Engineering, the team has demonstrated that modifying soil with a novel hydrophobic agent can significantly enhance its water repellency, offering a new approach to safeguarding infrastructure in these challenging environments.
The study, published in *Yantu gongcheng xuebao* (translated to *Rock and Soil Mechanics*), focuses on the representative silty clay from Qinghai, a typical cold region. The researchers prepared soil samples with varying compaction degrees and contents of a hydrophobic agent, then conducted a series of contact angle tests and breakthrough pressure experiments to investigate the effects on water repellency and breakthrough pressure.
The results were striking. “The water repellency of the modified Qinghai silty clay approaches superhydrophobic levels,” said Dr. Li. This means that the soil can effectively repel water, reducing the risk of frost damage and seepage. The team found that increasing the compaction degree and optimizing the content of the hydrophobic agent significantly improved the contact angle and breakthrough pressure of the soils.
The breakthrough pressure, a critical measure of the soil’s ability to resist water infiltration, exhibited a unimodal distribution with varying contents of the hydrophobic agent. Under optimal conditions—a compaction degree of 0.95 and a content of hydrophobic agent of 13.0%—the hydrophobic soil exhibited the highest breakthrough pressure, reaching approximately 50 kPa.
This research has significant implications for the energy sector, particularly in cold regions where infrastructure is vulnerable to frost damage and seepage. By enhancing the water resistance of soils, this technology can improve the durability and reliability of energy infrastructure, reducing maintenance costs and extending the lifespan of critical assets.
Dr. Li and his team’s findings provide new experimental evidence for the design of seepage-resistant soils in cold regions. “This offers a reference for the future application of hydrophobic soils in cold region engineering,” Dr. Li noted. The study not only advances our understanding of soil modification techniques but also paves the way for innovative solutions to longstanding challenges in cold region construction.
As the energy sector continues to expand into remote and harsh environments, the need for robust and resilient infrastructure becomes increasingly critical. This research offers a promising avenue for enhancing the performance of soils in these challenging conditions, ensuring the reliability and efficiency of energy projects in cold regions.