It has been unanimously acknowledged that the strength and deformation characteristics of bounded geomaterials, viz. cemented soils and natural rocks, are predominantly governed by the rate of loading/deformation. Rational evaluation of these time-dependent characteristics due to viscosity and ageing are vital for the reliable constitutive modelling. In order to study the effects of ageing and loading/strain rate (viscosity) on the behaviour of bounded geomaterials, a number of unconfined monotonic loading tests were performed on Gypsum Mixed Sand (GMS) specimens at a wide range of axial strain rates; ranging from 1.9E-05 to 5.3E+00 %/min (27,000 folds), and at different curing periods. The results indicate shifts in the viscous behaviour of GMS at critical strain rates of 2.0E-03 and 5.0E-01 %/min. In the light of this finding, the results are categorized into three discrete zones of strain rates, and the behaviour of GMS in each of these zones is discussed. A significant dependency of peak strength and stress-strain responses on strain rate was witnessed for specimens subjected to strain rates lesser than 2.0E-03 %/min, and the effects of viscosity/strain rate was found to be insignificant at strain rate higher than 5.0E-01%/min.
Deformation characteristics of sedimentary rock due to continuous changes of moisture content in wetting process
