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Fracture characteristics of cement-stabilized soils

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Abstract

Fracture characteristics of cement-stabilized soil under Mode I (tensile) and Mode II (in-plane shear) were investigated on a series of cube specimens. The linear elastic fracture mechanics approach was applied to study the stress distribution in the specimens and also to determine the constitutive equations for fracture parametersK I andK II. The experimental studies were carried out on a range of 100 mm soil-cement cube specimens modified for fracture testing by inserting a series of slots. It was shown that results predicted by numerical models were in acceptable agreement with the experimental observations. The fracture parameterK I was found to be in the range 0.11–0.17 MN m−3/2 and the parameterK II in the range 0.31–0.45 MN m−3/2. This result indicated that the soil-cement exhibited a greater resistance to shear fracture than was expected.

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Abbreviations

K :

Stress intensity factor

σ:

elastic stress field near the crack tip

f(a/w) :

Dimensionless parameter depending on geometries of the specimen and the crack

r :

Radial distance measured from the crack tip

U :

Area under load-deflection graph

dU :

Difference in potential energy for unit thickness between two identically loaded bodies

dA :

Increase in crack area

G :

Strain energy release rate

E :

Young's modulus

v:

Poisson's ratio

a :

Crack length

w :

Specimen width

B :

Specimen thickness

H :

Slot separation

σy :

Yield stress of material

K I,K II :

Fracture toughness in Mode I, Mode II

P :

Applied load

P max :

Load at failure

τ:

In-plane shear stress

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  1. Department of Civil Engineering and Building, The Polytechnic of Wales, Llantwit Road, CF37 1DL, Pontypridd, UK

    J. Davies

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Davies, J. Fracture characteristics of cement-stabilized soils. J Mater Sci 26, 4095–4103 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02402952

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