# Study on the Influence of Moisture Content and Void Ratio on the Disintegration of Red Clay
## 2 Red Clay Disintegration Test
### Disintegration Test Analysis  
According to Table 1 and Figure 2, the disintegration test of red clay in pure water showed the following results:  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c c c} \hline \multirow{3}{*}{**Initial Moisture**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**24\%**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**26\%**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**28\%**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**30\%**} \\ \cline{2-10}  & **Saturation** & **Rate of Disintegration** & **Saturation** & **Rate of Disintegration** & **Saturation** & **Rate of Disintegration** & **Saturation** & **Rate of Disintegration** \\  & & **(\%)** & **(g/s)** & **(\%)** & **(g/s)** & **(g/s)** & **(\%)** & **(g/s)** & **(g/s)** \\ \hline \multirow{3}{*}{Void ratio} & 1.0 & 65.52 & 0.739 & 70.98 & 0 & 76.44 & 0 & 81.90 & 0 \\  & 1.1 & 59.56 & 1.769 & 64.53 & 0.055 & 69.49 & 0.029 & 74.45 & 0.002 \\ \cline{1-1}  & 1.15 & 56.97 & 2.813 & 61.72 & 0.974 & 66.47 & 0.035 & 71.22 & 0.055 \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 1: Statistical table of disintegration rates of red clay samples in pure water.  
Figure 1: Self-made disintegration apparatus.  
When e = 1.0, except for the 24% red clay sample which undergoes disintegration, samples only absorb water and do not disintegrate. For the sample with \(\omega\) = 24% and e = 1.0, a small amount of bubbles escape during disintegration, and the surface of the soil sample peels off in scales and fragments. The disintegration rate is 0.739 g/s. When \(\omega\)\(\geq\) 26%, no disintegration occurs even after 30 min.  
When e = 1.1, the red clay with \(\omega\) = 24% rapidly disintegrates into flakes and powder, with the disintegration liquid becoming turbid. The disintegration rate significantly increases to 1.769 g/s. The samples with \(\omega\) = 26%, 28%, and 30% first experience weight gain and then undergo slow disintegration, with the soil forming blocks, debris, and flake-like peeling. The disintegration rates in the stable stage are 0.035 g/s, 0.029 g/s, and 0.002 g/s, respectively.  
When e = 1.15, all groups of samples undergo disintegration. The red clay with \(\omega\) = 24% shows intense disintegration in the form of flakes and powder, with a large amount of bubbles overflowing. The maximum disintegration rate reaches 2.813 g/s. The remaining groups of samples undergo relatively gentle disintegration, with the soil forming block-like and debris-like slow disintegration. The disintegration rates are 0.974 g/s, 0.036 g/s, and 0.055 g/s, respectively. The overall disintegration rate decreases as the initial moisture content increases.  
Based on the analysis above, it can be concluded that the rate of disintegration in red clay is not only affected by the initial moisture content, but also significantly influenced by the soil's void ratio. When the void ratio remains constant, the disintegration rate decreases as the moisture content of the red clay increases, resulting in a more gradual disintegration phenomenon. Conversely, when the moisture content is constant, the disintegration rate of red clay increases with an increase in void ratio, leading to a more intense disintegration phenomenon.