Material preparation and mechanical properties of transparent soil and soft rock for model tests

To investigate the optical and mechanical properties of transparent soil, experimental research was conducted and the microscopic structure was analysed with the help of a scanning electron microscope, the refractive indices of the transparent soil under different void ratios were obtained, observing the microscopic characteristics transparent soil. In addition, a consolidation test and a shear test were conducted to elucidate the e – p relationship and shear parameters of the transparent soil. On this basis, a material similar technique to the transparent soft rock was prepared and uniaxial compression tests were conducted to determine the uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus of the transparent soft rock under different consolidation pressures. The stress–strain curve of the transparent soft rock can be divided into three stages, with the increase in consolidation pressure, both the uniaxial compressive strength and elasticity modulus of the transparent soft rock increased significantly. These findings are of theoretical and practical significance, which can provide references for model tests on transparent soils used in geotechnical engineering.