Experimental Study on Horizontal Uniaxial Tensile Strengths of Remoulded Loess

• A new self-developed high-precision horizontal uniaxial tensile testing device for soils is presented. • It describes the tensile strength characteristics of remolded loess at a low speed of 0.01 mm/min, providing an accurate description of stress-strain characteristics. • An estimation function for tensile strength has been established, with water content and dry density as independent variables. Loess can be seen globally. Understanding the tensile strength of loess is crucial for addressing geological and engineering challenges in regions like the Loess Plateau in China. However, existing direct and indirect methods often fail to provide accurate tensile strength measurements, resulting in significant discrepancies between theoretical calculations and actual values. To overcome these limitations, this study designed and developed a novel horizontal uniaxial tensile test apparatus specifically for measuring the tensile properties of remolded Malan loess. A series of experiments were conducted on remolded loess samples to obtain comprehensive tensile stress-strain data, with a focus on the effects of water content and dry density. The newly developed testing apparatus is capable of generating the tensile stress-strain curves accurately and rapidly, which enables detailed analyses of tensile fracture characteristics. The findings from this study indicate that the loess tensile properties exhibit significant post-peak softening behavior, similar to quasi-brittle materials. The tensile behavior can be characterized into four stages: elastic and hysteretic elastic stage, microplastic strain stage, yield stage, and failure stage. Additionally, the tensile strength was highly sensitive to water content, varying from about 26 kPa to over 100 kPa; the ultimate tensile strain corresponding to the peak stress is generally less than 0.5%. Empirical functions were proposed for estimation of tensile strength using water content and dry density as inputs. These results help in preventing and controlling engineering failures in loess regions. Last, the study enhances the accuracy of soil tensile strength measurements and contributes to the advancement of geotechnical testing methods.