Test study of mechanical properties of reinforced loess

The reinforcing effect with PS shows that the initial water content and density of loess have influences on test result through the direct shear test and seepage test. It can be easily found through the test with various water contents and different densities samples. The results show that the strength can be enhanced evidently with the 9 % water content sample, when all the samples have the same density. But the seepage tests have a different results that the permeability varies nonlinearly with the water content. It is found that the PS has the best reinforced effect when the water content varying between 8.5 % and 11 %. It is very important to the earthen architecture sites in arid region of northwest of china.