New Pressure–Void Ratio Relationship for Structured Soils in the Virgin Compression Range
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 140, Issue 8
Abstract
The pressure–void ratio relationship of many structured soils in the virgin compression range is highly nonlinear. The initial part of the compression curve is characterized by the breakdown of structures, whereas the behavior in the postdestructuration range is influenced by soil mineralogy. A robust pressure–void ratio relationship should include parameters that account for the distinct mechanisms that control the behavior in the destructuration and postdestructuration ranges. A new pressure–void ratio relationship based on a modified secant compression index is proposed. It is shown that the variation of the proposed secant compression index with a logarithm of pressure can be approximated by a hyperbolic form with two parameters. The new relationship has been verified in a wide range of naturally structured soils. Parametric studies conducted show that one parameter controls the compression behavior within the stress range where the destructuration is dominant, and the other parameter controls the behavior beyond it where the structure is destroyed and mineralogy controls.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 140 • Issue 8 • August 2014
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 29, 2013
Accepted: May 20, 2014
Published online: Jun 12, 2014
Published in print: Aug 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Nov 12, 2014
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