Experimental investigation of the erodibility of soda saline-alkali soil under freeze-thaw cycle from a microscopic view

•10th FTC was the threshold number to affect the structural stability of the soil.•Increasing SSC (<0.8 %) did not constantly reduce the water stability of the soil.•The effect of FTC on soil erodibility was more significant than SSC.•Freeze-thaw microscopic deterioration mechanism in soil erodibility was explored.