Stress-Path Dependent Deformation Moduli of Clay

In case of normally consolidated saturated clays the stress- strain behavior during drained shear is shown to depend considerably on stress-path. The effect of stress-path on variation of initial tangent modulus with preshear consolidation pressure is brought out. Relationships between modulus number, k, exponent, n, failure ratio and stress-path have been shown to be bilinear with the change in slope being at a common and unique stress-path for a given clay. The stress-path stress level dependent k, n, and R_f values obtained from experimental investigation have been incorporated in the finite element of the earth pressure problem. The results of the active earth pressure problem using constant k, n, and R_f values obtained from conventional triaxial tests are shown to be at marked variance with those obtained by using stress-path dependent modulus values.