Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) investigations in soil microstructure description

摘要

Composed of discrete particles and particle groups, a soil mass or a reconstituted soil mass should be considered as a continuum for analysis and design. Even with the development of numerous techniques of investigations, the link between the macroscopic behavior and the particle arrangement in soils is still under debate owing the complexity of the system, the different levels of investigations. However the shape of the particles, the particle arrangements, the strength of the particles or the water content of a soil govern the soil microstructure or fabric and the macroscopic properties as the permeability, the compressibility and strength. Some examples presented in this paper illustrate how the use of conventional scanning electron microscope (SEM) can be useful in the description of soil fabric and bring information in the understanding of the soil properties.