Earthen architecture ruins is mostly found in the arid area

which suffers from strong wind erosion

freeze-thaw process. Influence of cyclic freezing-thawing on the durability of earthen architecture are researched. Cyclic freezing-thawing are conducted on the undisturbed and remolded specimens from Jiaohe cultural heritage

Xinjiang

China to understand the durability of earthen architecture to wind erosion and the strength attenuation. Test results show

under low original water content

the undisturbed and remolded specimens masses are increased during the beginning five freezing-thawing cycles. With the change of moisture content during the freezing and thawing process

undisturbed specimen weight expresses a decreasing tendency; and remolded specimens weight maintains a level of weight. With the increasing of freezing-thawing cycles

undisturbed specimens show a decrease in compressive strength and an increase in wind erosion quantity due to microstructure damage; that is

a weakening in durability. However

the remolded specimens exhibit an enhancement of microstructures at beginning cycles

characterized by an increase in strength and a decrease in wind erosion

that is

an improvement in durability. It is considered the healing effect of destroyed microstructure and the aging of chemical cohesive agents are responsible for the strengthening of remolded specimen at the earlier freezing-thawing cycles. At the further freezing-thawing cycles

the remolded specimens turn to exhibit a decreasing tendency on durability following the increasing damage of microstructure.