Geotechnical Engineering Journal of the SEAGS & AGSSEA ISSN 0046-5828
Vol. 46 No.3 September 2015
Overview and Interpretation of Rate-Dependency of the Behaviour of Soft Clays
Z. X. Wu1, Q. Y. Zhu2 and Z. Y. Yin3
1,3Department of Geotechnical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Geotechnical and Underground Engineering of Ministry of Education, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China. LUNAM University, Ecole Centrale de Nantes, Nantes, France
2State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou,China
3E-mail: zhenyu.yin@gmail.com
ABSTRACT: Extensive laboratory tests and field observations show that soft clays exhibit significant rate-dependent behavior. The rate-dependency of stress-strain behavior under both 1D and 3D conditions is firstly reviewed. The applicability of five rate-dependency equations in correlating the pre-consolidation pressure and undrained shear strength is also discussed. Furthermore, the rate-dependency of the behaviour of soft clays under complex loading conditions is analysed. Finally, the uniqueness of the rate-dependency under different conditions, i.e. between 1D and 3D, between triaxial compression and extension, between different OCRs is investigated.
KEYWORDS: Pre-consolidation pressure, Shear strength, Rate-dependency, Stress-dilatancy, Over-consolidation ratio
