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An Intrinsic Compressibility Framework for Clayey Soils

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Abstract

A mathematical framework for the description of structureless clay behaviour is proposed in this paper. It is based on the observation that there exists a biunique relationship between the radial stress path direction and the compression curve on the specific volume (v = 1 + e)—mean effective stress (σ or p) plane. The projection on the v − σ plane defines the Intrinsic Compression Curve (ICC) of the corresponding radial stress path, which results in infinite possible ICC curves. Following a normalization procedure, a general methodology is presented, which can be applied to any mathematical formulation of the ICC curve. The constants included in this description are called intrinsic properties. This procedure can be easily implemented to anisotropic constitutive models. Its importance is based on the fact that modern constitutive models require a definition of the structureless state, as this state is the limiting reference state of the fully destructured material. In addition, the paper presents a set of correlations for the estimation of the intrinsic properties from the index properties, which helps on the preliminary selection of the material constants.

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Notes

  1. The subscript η stands for the dependence of the ICC on the radial stress path.

Abbreviations

ε q :

Axisymmetric deviatoric strain

ε v :

Volumetric strain

η :

Stress ratio tensor

ησ :

Tensorial stress ratio

η q :

Axisymmetric stress ratio

λ:

Intrinsic Compressibility

σ :

Stress tensor

σ ij :

Stress tensor

σ:

Mean or isotropic effective stress

σ v :

Vertical effective stress

CSC :

Critical State Curve

CSE :

Critical State Envelope

c u :

Undrained shear strength

d q :

Axisymmetric dilatancy

e :

Voids’ ratio

I :

Unit tensor

ICC :

Intrinsic Compression Curve

ICC :

Intrinsic Compressibility Envelope

K :

Earth pressure coefficient

M :

Critical slope

N η :

Position of ICC

p :

Mean or isotropic effective stress

s :

Deviatoric stress tensor

v :

Specific volume

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the reviewers for their constructive comments, which helped us to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Department, National Technical University of Athens, 5, Iroon Polytechniou Street, 157 80, Zografou, Greece

    G. Belokas & M. Kavvadas

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  1. G. Belokas
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  2. M. Kavvadas
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Correspondence to G. Belokas.

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Belokas, G., Kavvadas, M. An Intrinsic Compressibility Framework for Clayey Soils. Geotech Geol Eng 29, 855–871 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-011-9422-0

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