Physicochemical effect on shear strength characteristics of clayey soils based on ring-shear experiment

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (12) ◽  
pp. 1820-1831
Author(s):  
Chuanqin Yao ◽  
Pan Chen ◽  
Tiantian Ma ◽  
Xiaolong Xia ◽  
Changfu Wei

Pore fluid chemistry can significantly influence the shear strength characteristics of a clayey soil. To explore the underlying mechanisms, a series of ring shear experiments are performed on two natural clays, which represent two typical types of clayey minerals, i.e., expansive montmorillonitic clay and low-plasticity kaolinitic clay. The effects of pore solution concentrations on the shear strength of the two clays are experimentally characterized. It is shown that the shear strength of the expansive clay can be significantly influenced by the pore solution chemistry, whereas that of the low-plasticity clay proves to be relatively insensitive to it. To capture the main features of the shear strength behavior of clayey soils, the concept of intergranular stress, which is an extension of the Terzaghi’s effective stress to incorporate physicochemical effect, is introduced to interpret the experimental data. It is found that the evolution of residual shear strength can be very well characterized by using the intergranular stress, showing that the proposed intergranular stress formulation can be used alternatively to describe the stress state of clayey soils saturated with various pore solutions.

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.


Author(s):  
Thi Minh Hue Le ◽  
Gudmund Reidar Eiksund ◽  
Pål Johannes Strøm

For offshore foundations, the residual shear strength is an important soil parameter for the evaluation of installation resistance and axial pile capacity (for jacket foundation). Estimation of residual shear strength can be conducted in a shear box test in the conventional way, or with the introduction of an interface to evaluate the change in residual shear strength under influence of friction between soil and the interface. In addition, the residual effective friction angle can be measured in the ring shear test using the Bromhead apparatus. In this study, the three above-mentioned methods are employed to estimate the values of residual shear strength of two soil units: the Swarte Bank Formation and the Chalk Unit sampled from the Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farms. The Swarte Bank Formation is dominated by heavily over-consolidated stiff clay, while the Chalk Unit is characterized by putty white chalk which behaves in a similar manner to stiff clay if weathered, or to soft rock if unweathered. These soil units are located at the bottom of the soil profile at the Sheringham Shoal wind farm and hence are important in providing axial capacity to the foundation. Samples from the two soil units are tested and compared at different rates of shearing to evaluate the change in axial capacity and installation resistance of the offshore wind turbine foundations under various possible loading and drainage conditions. Comparison is also made between residual shear strength with and without a reconsolidation period to assess the potential for soil set-up and its influence on the soil capacity. The results show that, for both the clay and the chalk, the estimated residual shear strengths are quite similar between the conventional and interface shear tests and tend to increase with increasing shearing rate. This can be attributed to the increasing dominance of the turbulent shearing mode. Relative to the peak shear strength, the values of residual shear strength are approximately 5 to 35% lower in most cases. Reconsolidation for a period of 24 hours appears to have, if any, marginal positive effect on residual shear strength of the two soils in both shear box and interface shear box tests. The residual friction angles derived from the shear box and ring shear tests are comparable and fall in the immediate range of shear strength. The various test results imply that the pile foundations at the Sheringham Shoal would have considerably large axial capacity, assuming that the horizontal stress is similar to the normal stress used in testing. The test data however should be used with caution and combined with piling experience in comparable soils where possible. The study aims to provide a source of reference for design of pile foundations for sites with similar soil conditions.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baoqin Lian ◽  
Jianbing Peng ◽  
Qiangbing Huang

Abstract. Residual shear strength of soils is an important soil parameter for assessing the stability of landslides. To investigate the effect of the shear rate on the residual shear strength of loessic soils, a series of ring shear tests were carried out on loess from three landslides at two shear rates (0.1 mm/min and 1 mm/min). Naturally drained ring shear tests results showed that the shear displacement to achieve the residual stage for specimens with higher shear rate was greater than that of the lower rate; both the peak and residual friction coefficient became smaller with increase of shear rate for each sample; at two shear rates, the residual friction coefficients for all specimens under the lower normal stress were greater than that under the higher normal stress. The tests results revealed that the difference in the residual friction angle фr at the two shear rates, фr (1)–фr (0.1), under each normal stress level were either positive or negative values. However, the difference фr(1)–фr (0.1) under all normal stresses was negative, which indicates that the residual shear parameters reduced with the increasing of the shear rate in loess area. Such negative shear rate effect on loess could be attributed to a greater ability of clay particles in specimen to restore broken bonds at low shear rates.


2013 ◽  
Vol 639-640 ◽  
pp. 850-853
Author(s):  
Chuan Sheng Chen ◽  
Hong Bin Xiao

It is commonly considered that liquefaction of sandy soils is the important reason for earthquake-induced landslides,but it has been reported liquefaction phenomenon can also occur in clayey soils in the recent research. In order to clarify liquefaction potential in clayey soils ,a deeper study was conducted on the basis of field investigation and a series of laboratory tests including undrained cyclic ring-shear tests on the clayey soil samples collected from the sliding zone of the Wenchuan earthquake-induced landslides. Results show that the liquefaction potential of clayey soils is lower than that of sandy soils given the same void ratio; the soil resistance to liquefaction rises with an increase in plasticity for clayey soils; It is useful to estimate the liquefaction potential of soil by means of plasticity index and the liquefaction potential of soil in practical engineering applications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 11741
Author(s):  
Jongmuk Won ◽  
Junghee Park ◽  
Junki Kim ◽  
Junbong Jang

The current classification of clayey soils does not entail information of pore fluid chemistry and particle size less than 75 µm. However, the pore fluid chemistry and particle size (at given mineralogy) are critical in the plasticity of clayey soils because of their impact on negative charge density. Therefore, this study extensively discusses the description of clay with respect to mineralogy, particle sizes, and pore fluid chemistry based on liquid and plastic limits of kaolinite, illite, and bentonite, and estimates undrained shear strength from the observed liquid limits. The liquid limits and undrained shear strength estimated from the observed liquid limits as a function of mineralogy (clay type), particle size, and ionic concentration reveal the need of incorporating pore fluid chemistry and particle size into the fines classification system. Furthermore, multiple linear regression models developed in this study demonstrate the importance of particle size and ionic concentration in predicting the liquid limit of clayey soils. This study also discusses the need for a comprehensive understanding of fines classification for proper interpretation of natural phenomena and engineering applications for fine-grained sediments.


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