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On the intrinsic behaviour of decomposed volcanic rocks

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Abstract

The intrinsic behaviour of soils is very essential and the mechanical behaviour of reconstituted soils depends mainly on its intrinsic properties. The separate role played by particle shape, particle mineralogy and grading on the mechanical behaviour of soils resulting from weathered igneous rocks have not been extensively studied. The effects of particle shape, particle mineralogy and grading on the mechanics of decomposed volcanics have been systematically investigated through one-dimensional compression and triaxial tests. This was achieved by using samples of different weathering degrees. The results indicate that the influence of particle mineralogy on the one-dimensional compression behaviour is relatively small compared to grading. There is effect of grading on the shearing behaviour, and it is less pronounced than in compression. There is slight effect of grading at a small strain level. Generally, grading has a notable influence on the mechanical behaviour of volcanic saprolites, and it is more important than particle mineralogy for volcanic saprolites.

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Abbreviations

CSL :

CSL*

critical state line

G 0 :

elastic shear modulus

G tan :

tangent shear modulus

Ghh, Ghv :

shear modulus in horizontal and vertical plane

M :

critical state gradient (q/p')

N, No :

1D-NCL intercept at 1 kPa

NCL, NCL* :

normal compression line

p′:

mean effective stress

p′ o :

mean effective stress prior to shearing

q :

deviatoric stress

v :

specific volume

vs(hh), vs(hv) :

shear wave velocity in horizontal and vertical plane

Δu:

pore pressure change

εa :

axial strain

ε s :

shear strain

λ :

slope of NCL and CSL

Γ :

CSL intercept at 1 kPa

φ′cs :

critical state angle of shearing resistance

σ′v :

vertical effective stress

S :

sphericity

R :

roundness

ρ :

regularity

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Acknowledgements

The author would also like to thank Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) for the award to pursue PhD programme and Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) of Hong Kong SAR for providing the samples used for this research.

Funding

This work was fully supported by a grant from the Research Grant Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), China (T22-603/15N).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal University of Technology Akure, Akure, Nigeria

    Ismail Adeniyi Okewale

  2. City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

    Ismail Adeniyi Okewale

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  1. Ismail Adeniyi Okewale
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Correspondence to Ismail Adeniyi Okewale.

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Okewale, I.A. On the intrinsic behaviour of decomposed volcanic rocks. Bull Eng Geol Environ 79, 1311–1322 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-019-01643-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-019-01643-7

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