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Monotonic and cyclic characteristics of K0-Consolidated saturated soft clay under a stress path involving a variable confining pressure

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Abstract

In certain field conditions such as offshore projects under wave loads or embankments under traffic loads, both the vertical and horizontal stresses are variable. However, previous investigations rarely considered the variation in horizontal stress. To better understand the characteristics of natural saturated soft clay, a series of monotonic and cyclic triaxial tests with a K0-consolidation state were carried out under a variable confining pressure (VCP) stress path. The development of axial strain, pore water pressure and effective stress path is analysed. The results show that with the increase in η (the ratio of the variation in the mean effective principal stress to that of the deviatoric stress), the undrained shear strength (qf) decreases continuously. The pore water pressure generation is slightly improved under a stress path with increasing confining pressure. Based on the test results, a unified formula was established to predict the pore water pressure under VCP stress paths. The unique p–q–e relationship of normally consolidated clay in monotonic VCP triaxial tests was also demonstrated. Under VCP stress paths, the amplitude of the pore pressure increases, and the effective stress path tilts more sharply to the right. Moreover, a unified formula was established that can provide a good reference for predicting effective stress paths under cyclic VCP triaxial tests.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFC0800200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51978534, 51778502, 51978532,), the Zhejiang Province Natural Foundation projects of China (Grant No. LR18E080001), Key Research and development program of Zhejiang Province (Grant No. 2018C03038). This financial support is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Wenzhou University, Chashan University Town, Wenzhou, 325035, China

    Jun Wang, Lei Wu & Lin Guo

  2. Key Laboratory of Engineering and Technology for Soft Soil Foundation and Tideland Reclamation of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, China

    Jun Wang, Lei Wu & Lin Guo

  3. Innovation Centre of Tideland Reclamation and Ecological Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China

    Jun Wang, Lei Wu & Lin Guo

  4. Department of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China

    Yuanqiang Cai

  5. Wenzhou Mass Transit Railway Investment Group Co., LTD, Wenzhou, 325035, People’s Republic of China

    Yunguo Du & Changfei Gou

  6. Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Saga University, Saga, Japan

    Junfeng Ni & Ziyang Gao

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  1. Jun Wang
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  2. Lei Wu
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Correspondence to Lin Guo.

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Wang, J., Wu, L., Cai, Y. et al. Monotonic and cyclic characteristics of K0-Consolidated saturated soft clay under a stress path involving a variable confining pressure. Acta Geotech. 16, 1161–1174 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-020-01031-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-020-01031-6

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