Influence of matric suction on shear strength behavior of a residual clayey soil

2007 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 891-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Kayadelen ◽  
M. A. Tekinsoy ◽  
T. Taşkıran
2020 ◽  
Vol 195 ◽  
pp. 03024
Author(s):  
Laureano R. Hoyos ◽  
Jairo E. Yepes ◽  
Claudia L. Velosa ◽  
Anand J. Puppala

An experimental program has been undertaken to assess both peak and residual shear strength parameters of statically compacted, moderate plasticity clayey soil under suction-controlled conditions, resulting in a defined set of suction-dependent peak and residual failure envelopes over a relatively wide range of suction states, from 0 to 300 kPa. The experimental program was accomplished in a servo/suction-controlled ring shear apparatus, which is suitable for testing unsaturated soils under large deformations via the axis-translation technique. Test results substantiate the crucial role that has been observed to be played by the imposed matric suction on the residual shear strength of compacted clayey soils. For the range of net normal stress (0-200 kPa) and matric suction (0-300 kPa) states investigated, the increase in either peak or residual shear strength, with increasing matric suction, was found to be manifestly nonlinear. Furthermore, a distinct correspondence was observed between the nonlinearity of the peak shear strength envelope, with respect to increasing matric suction, and the soil-water retention properties of the clayey soil. Results, in general, suggest that a conceptual residual shear strength framework for unsaturated soils, similar to that postulated for peak shear strength, can eventually be formulated as more experimental evidence of this kind is made available.


1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 595-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian K-M Gan ◽  
D G Fredlund

The saturated and unsaturated shear strength behavior of an undisturbed, completely decomposed fine ash tuff and an undisturbed, completely decomposed granite from Hong Kong were studied using direct shear and triaxial tests. The completely decomposed fine ash tuff is a fine- to medium-grained saprolite. The completely decomposed granite is a coarse-grained saprolite. Results show that matric suction increases the shear strength of both soils. The extent of the increase is the shear strength with matric suction is related to the soil-water characteristic curve for the soil and to the amount of dilation during shear. The effect of matric suction on the shear strength was more pronounced for the fine- to medium-grained completely decomposed fine ash tuff than for the coarse-grained completely decomposed granite. These studies on the saprolitic soils provide insight into the understanding of the shear strength of unsaturated, coarse-grained soils. Key words: saprolites, shear strength, matric suction, triaxial, direct shear, coarse-grained soils.


Chemical foam is being used more frequently with Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) shields to achieve underground works, which present a rising interest in the excavation technique. During tunneling with an Earth Pressure Balance shield in clayey soil, clogging of the clay occurs, leading to blocking the cutting head and clog then the shield chambers. Surfactants are commonly used as conditioning agents to reduce clay stickiness. This treatment leads to a change in the mechanical properties of conditioned soil. This paper aims tostudy the shear strength behavior of foam-conditioned soil basing on triaxial tests in the undrained consolidated conditions. Experimental results are modeled using the finite element code COMSOL Multiphysics with the aim of analyzing the effect of the percentage of foam on the shear strength behavior. The soil mixture made from 40% of kaolinite and 60% of sand was conditioned with a foaming agent based on anionic surfactant. Consolidated undrained triaxial tests have been performed in order to explain the effect of foam. Results show that foam reduces the shear stress thanks to their weak stiffness. Shear strength stress is affected by the percentage of the foam in the mixture before shearing by reduce the shear strength of the conditioned soil. Soil-foam mixture has been modeled as a medium containing spherical pore inclusions with a low stiffness compared to the stiffness of unconditioned soil. Stiffness of bubbles inclusions was identified using one of the known homogenization models for composite materials. Results show that the reduce shear stress strength is affected by the percentage of inclusions in the matrix. It confirms the friction angle of composite material decrease as function of the percentage of gas bubbles inclusion in the matrix.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-38
Author(s):  
Ildikó Buocz ◽  
Nikoletta Rozgonyi-Boissinot ◽  
Ákos Török

2010 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 1112-1126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Akhtar Hossain ◽  
Jian-Hua Yin

Shear strength and dilative characteristics of a re-compacted completely decomposed granite (CDG) soil are studied by performing a series of single-stage consolidated drained direct shear tests under different matric suctions and net normal stresses. The axis-translation technique is applied to control the pore-water and pore-air pressures. A soil-water retention curve (SWRC) is obtained for the CDG soil from the equilibrium water content corresponding to each applied matric suction value for zero net normal stress using a modified direct shear apparatus. Shear strength increases with matric suction and net normal stress, and the failure envelope is observed to be linear. The apparent angle of internal friction and cohesion intercept increase with matric suction. A greater dilation angle is found at higher suctions with lower net normal stresses, while lower or zero dilation angles are observed under higher net normal stresses with lower suctions, also at a saturated condition. Experimental shear strength data are compared with the analytical shear strength results obtained from a previously modified model considering the SWRC, effective shear strength parameters, and analytical dilation angles. The experimental shear strength data are slightly higher than the analytical results under higher net normal stresses in a higher suction range.


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