Scholarlink

<p>The sustainable development of linear infrastructures in Mediterranean environments is strongly constrained by sulfate-rich expansive soils, which induce chemical aggressivity, swelling–shrinkage behavior, and long-term environmental degradation of anthropogenic systems. This research was therefore necessary to provide an integrated environmental engineering framework capable of identifying and managing soil-related risks at the corridor scale. An integrated methodology combining geotechnical characterization, chemical analysis, multivariate statistical analysis (principal component analysis), and geostatistical modeling (ordinary kriging) was applied to soils along the Khenchela–Oum El Bouaghi railway corridor (NE Algeria). Sampling was strategically designed to capture lithological heterogeneity. Chemical analyses of 62 samples revealed elevated sulfate contents (mean 9.39%), exceeding international aggressivity thresholds, while geotechnical testing of 39 samples indicated medium to high plasticity (PI &gt; 17%), associated with moisture sensitivity and expansive behavior. The statistical analysis demonstrated a strong relationship between sulfate content, plasticity indices, and water-related parameters, reflecting the influence of clay–gypsum formations. Geostatistical mapping identified a continuous high-risk corridor spatially aligned with regional structural trends. These findings are important because they allow early identification of environmentally aggressive soil zones that may compromise infrastructure durability, increase maintenance demands, and amplify environmental impacts. Beyond mapping, the study proposes a risk classification framework linking soil parameters to specific mitigation strategies (e.g., sulfate-resistant cement, advanced drainage). This integrated approach provides a decision-support tool for environmental integration by guiding sustainable infrastructure planning, optimizing drainage and soil stabilization strategies, and reducing uncertainty in managing natural and anthropogenic ecosystems affected by sulfate-rich soils.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Environmental engineering and geostatistical assessment of sulfate-rich expansive soils: supporting sustainable railway development in an anthropogenic ecosystem (NE Algeria)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月24日

查看全文
  • Nour El Houda Toubi,
  • Nour El Houda Mezerreg

摘要

The sustainable development of linear infrastructures in Mediterranean environments is strongly constrained by sulfate-rich expansive soils, which induce chemical aggressivity, swelling–shrinkage behavior, and long-term environmental degradation of anthropogenic systems. This research was therefore necessary to provide an integrated environmental engineering framework capable of identifying and managing soil-related risks at the corridor scale. An integrated methodology combining geotechnical characterization, chemical analysis, multivariate statistical analysis (principal component analysis), and geostatistical modeling (ordinary kriging) was applied to soils along the Khenchela–Oum El Bouaghi railway corridor (NE Algeria). Sampling was strategically designed to capture lithological heterogeneity. Chemical analyses of 62 samples revealed elevated sulfate contents (mean 9.39%), exceeding international aggressivity thresholds, while geotechnical testing of 39 samples indicated medium to high plasticity (PI > 17%), associated with moisture sensitivity and expansive behavior. The statistical analysis demonstrated a strong relationship between sulfate content, plasticity indices, and water-related parameters, reflecting the influence of clay–gypsum formations. Geostatistical mapping identified a continuous high-risk corridor spatially aligned with regional structural trends. These findings are important because they allow early identification of environmentally aggressive soil zones that may compromise infrastructure durability, increase maintenance demands, and amplify environmental impacts. Beyond mapping, the study proposes a risk classification framework linking soil parameters to specific mitigation strategies (e.g., sulfate-resistant cement, advanced drainage). This integrated approach provides a decision-support tool for environmental integration by guiding sustainable infrastructure planning, optimizing drainage and soil stabilization strategies, and reducing uncertainty in managing natural and anthropogenic ecosystems affected by sulfate-rich soils.