Research on relationship between structure and deformation property of intact loess

The compression tests are conducted on Lanzhou and Xi'an intact loess under different water contents. The quantitative comprehensive structural parameter is defined by using void ratio of intact, disturbed and saturated loess. The effects of water content and pressure on the structural parameter are investigated. The study indicates. (1) The better relationship between deformation characteristics (compressibility and collapsibility) and structure can be obtained by using the variation characteristics of the structural parameter of intact loess with the change of water content and pressure. (2) Under the same water content, the structure parameter increases with the increase of pressure before structure strength; and it decreases or scarcely increases after it. (3) Under the same pressure, the structure parameter scarcely decreases with the increase of water content before the initial structure destruction water content ωf, and it apparently decreases after it. ωf decreases with the increase of pressure. The change of water content has obvious effect on the structure parameter. (4) The relationship between coefficient of collapsibility and the structural parameter almost is the same line for intact loess in two regions under different pressures and water contents.