A Binary Medium Constitutive Model for Frozen Solidified Saline Soil in Cold Regions and Its Fractal Characteristics Analysis
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsComments
In this study, a binary medium constitutive model apply to both saline frozen soil before and after solidification were proposed. The article offers insightful analysis on stress-strain curves, failure patterns, and shear strength indicators, moreover, the mechanism of strength enhancement in solidified saline soil were analyzed. The manuscript is informative and well organized. Therefore, I recommend accepting this paper after making the following revisions.
1. Improve the logic of the introduction.
2. Why did you choose 0.9 compaction degree in the experiment? Please explain it.
3. In the constitutive relationship expressed by Equation (1) in the friction element section, what is the reasoning behind setting the control condition at 15% displacement?
4. Provide explanations for the unknown variables in equation (16).
5. Is it the temperature that enhances the strength of the hydration products formed during solidification?
6. How the moisture content affects the rate of change in shear strength with temperature?
7. In validating the binary medium model, the R2 value is not provided, it is recommended to provide a range for the overall R2.
8. It is recommended to merge Figure 16 and 17.
9. What is the correlation between pore distribution and the multifractal features ?
10. Please improve the conclusion to highlight the novelty of the study.
11. The refs.[50-53] are too old to be downloaded and can not support the statement of manuscript. They should be updated and replaced.
Comments on the Quality of English Language
minor revision
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis manuscript presents the results of experimental geotechnical tests along with curve fitting to obtain constitutive soil model parameters. The following comments aim at improving the text.
Line 178: drying soil samples at 105°C may alter the chemical composition of soil/salts. It is recommended that these types of soil are dried at 40°C to prevent chemical changes.
Line 204: please specify whether standard or modified compaction tests were carried out.
The type of triaxial tests (eg. Unconsolidated/consolidated drained/undrained) seem to be missing.
It is better to use effective stress notations in the manuscript for shear strength parameters.
The 15% cap for strain to change the stress-strain relationship does not seem to be applicable to solidified saline soil.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors(1) In line 137 is written that the soil was taken for testing to determine the grain size range between 0.75 - 2 mm - I suggest you add the term of the test. Presumably, this is a laboratory sieve analysis test.
(2) Why is there a limit of 0.075 mm in Table 1? Is this due to the standard / testing guidelines in China. In Europe, the limit value between sand and silt in laboratory tests is 0.063 mm according to EN 1997-1: Eurocode 7.
(3) Please clarify whether the sample placed in the triaxial chamber was triaxially surrounded by water with assumed temperatures of -5 ÷ -20 at the time of testing? Was the sample cooled in a separate equipment (as seen in fig. 4) and transferred to the triaxial chamber for testing? How was the temperature, e.g. -20, ensured and controlled for the sample throughout the experiment?
(4) In line 723 it is indicated that the influence of temperature, water content and confining pressure - then further discussed only the element temperature and water content. So, what effect did the confining pressure resulting from the test methodology used in the triaxial test equipment have on the experimental results obtained, relative to the behavior of the sample in the actual soil substrate without constraints (triaxial deformation state)?
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsDear editors, thank you for inviting me to review this manuscript.
In this manuscript, a binary medium constitutive model suitable for un-solidified and solidified frozen saline soil is proposed to address the strength degradation issue in saline soil foundations under the salt-freeze coupling effects. The research content of this manuscript is exciting and the research method is appropriate. Hence, the manuscript is suggested to be accepted after minor adjustments.
Some comments are given below.
1) It is suggested that the introduction be more simplified and that some conclusions related to the experiment be added.
2) Part of the research content has much relevant research, and the manuscript can be simplified by reference.
3) Lines 47 to 66 can simplify the description of soil.
4) Lines 242~261, the description in Figure 6 should be supplemented with more text to facilitate better understanding by the reader.
5) Table 6 should be simplified.
6) Some conclusions in the manuscript should be described with pictures to facilitate readers' understanding.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageSome statements require simple adjustments
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
