Creep and consolidation of a stiff clay under saturated and unsaturated conditions

Mohammad Rezania, Meghdad Bagheri, Mohaddeseh Mousavi Nezhad

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)
279 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In this paper, the one-dimensional (1D) time-dependent behaviour of natural and reconstituted London Clay samples under saturated and unsaturated conditions is studied. For this purpose, a set of 1D consolidation tests including multi-staged loading (MSL) oedometer tests and single-staged loading (SSL) long-term oedometer creep tests were carried out on saturated and unsaturated specimens. Conventional oedometer cells were used for tests on saturated specimens, whereas a newly designed unsaturated oedometer cell, equipped with two high-capacity tensiometers (HCTs) for suction measurements, was used for unsaturated tests. The tests results revealed stress- and suction-dependency of primary and secondary consolidation responses of the soil samples. Furthermore, counter to formerly acknowledged suggestions of independency of the slope of normal consolidation line to suction changes, it was observed that an increase in suction results in a decrease of the slope of compression curve (Cc) and the creep index (Cαe) values, and an increase in yield vertical net stress (σp). Moreover, the Cαe/Cc ratio for London Clay was found to be stress- and suction-dependent, unlike the previously suggested hypotheses.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)728-741
Number of pages14
JournalCanadian Geotechnical Journal
Volume57
Issue number5
Early online date27 Jun 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2020

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Keywords

  • Creep
  • Oedometer
  • Stiff clay
  • Suction
  • Unsaturated soils

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

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