Nonlinearity of the residual shear strength envelope in stiff clays

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2013

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Maghsoudloo, Arash

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During shearing of stiff clays, plate-shaped clay particles are parallel-oriented in the direction of shear reaching the minimum resistance of “residual shear strength”. The residual shear strength envelopes of stiff clays are curved, but for practical purposes represented by linear envelopes. This study investigates the nonlinearity of the residual shear strength envelope using experimental evidence (i) from laboratory reversal direct shear tests on two stiff clays (Ankara clay and kaolinite) at 25 to 900 kPa effective normal stresses and (ii) from laboratory data collected from literature. To evaluate the importance of nonlinearity of the envelope for geotechnical engineering practice, by limit equilibrium method, (a) case histories of reactivated landslides are analyzed and (b) a parametric study is carried out. Conclusions of this study are: (1) The residual shear strength envelopes of both Ankara clay and kaolinite are nonlinear, and can be represented by a power function (cohesion is zero). (2) At least 3 reversals or cumulative 20 mm shear displacement of direct shear box is recommended to reach residual condition. (3) Empirical relations between plasticity index and residual friction angle can accurately estimate the residual strength of stiff clays. (4) Nonlinearity is especially important for landslides where average effective normal stress on the shear plane is less than 50 kPa, both for translational and rotational failures. For such slopes using a linear strength envelope overestimates the factor of safety (more significantly for the case of high pore pressures). (5) As the plasticity index increases, the power “b” of the nonlinear shear strength envelope decreases, indicating more significant nonlinearity. For less plastic materials, using linear and nonlinear shear strength envelopes does not affect the factor of safety.

Subject Keywords

Shear strength of soils., Soil mechanics., Soil dynamics., Residual stresses.

URI

http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12615551/index.pdf
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/22361

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis

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Citation Formats

A. Maghsoudloo, “Nonlinearity of the residual shear strength envelope in stiff clays,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2013.