The Impact of Drained Conditions on Deformation Behaviors of Saturated Clay under Intermittent Cyclic Loading
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 24, Issue 12
Abstract
Cyclic triaxial tests with intermittent cyclic loading are usually used to investigate the deformation behaviors of soil; however, both deviator stress and confining pressure vary cyclically under traffic loading. Moreover, the pore water in soil can be dissipated throughout the test, affecting the mechanical behaviors of soils. Therefore, in this study, three test modes were applied to saturated soft clay to analyze the deformation behaviors, in which different cyclic confining pressures were used during cyclic loading periods, and different drained conditions during cyclic loading and intermittent periods were considered. The variations in strain increment were similar in all cases: as the loading stages progressed, the strain increment gradually diminished. The distinct variation in strain increment became evident in the initial loading stage, but it became negligible in subsequent loading stages. Furthermore, the change in strain increment with respect to cyclic confining pressure was influenced by drained conditions during the cyclic loading period: it increases as the cyclic confining pressure increased under partially drained conditions and decreases under undrained conditions. Moreover, the strain increased under partially drained conditions during intermittent periods, companying with the discharge of pore water, while it decreased for the recovery of specimen deformation under undrained conditions. The greater strain increment was caused under partially drained conditions during cyclic loading periods compared with the corresponding strain increment under undrained conditions. Besides, an empirical model was developed to forecast accumulated axial strain of soil subjected to intermittent cyclic loading, and the variations of parameters under different drained conditions were studied.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request.
Acknowledgments
The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52079135) and Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS (No. 2021325).
Notation
The following symbols are used in this paper:
- a, b, c, and β
- fitting parameters;
- N
- number of cycles;
- pampl
- amplitude of the cyclic mean principle total stress (kPa);
- qampl
- amplitude of the cyclic deviator stress (kPa);
- accumulated axial strain increment (%);
- amplitude of the cyclic confining pressure (kPa);
- ε
- axial strain (%);
- accumulated axial strain (%); and
- η
- inclination of stress path.
References
Cai, Y. Q., C. Gu, J. Wang, C. H. Juang, C. J. Xu, and X. Q. Hu. 2013. “One-way cyclic triaxial behavior of saturated clay: Comparison between constant and variable confining pressure.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 139 (5): 797–809. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000760.
Cerni, G., F. Cardone, A. Virgili, and S. Camilli. 2012. “Characterisation of permanent deformation behaviour of unbound granular materials under repeated triaxial loading.” Constr. Build. Mater. 28 (1): 79–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.07.066.
Chen, W.-B., J.-H. Yin, W.-Q. Feng, L. Borana, and R.-P. Chen. 2018. “Accumulated permanent axial strain of a subgrade fill under cyclic high-speed railway loading.” Int. J. Geomech. 18 (5): 04018018. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001119.
Chen, X. X., R. S. Nie, Y. F. Li, Y. P. Guo, and J. L. Dong. 2021. “Resilient modulus of fine-grained subgrade soil considering load interval: An experimental study.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 142: 106558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2020.106558.
Feng, D., X. X. Zhu, J. Wang, Y. Q. Cai, L. Guo, Y. G. Du, and X. Q. Hu. 2021. “The effects of cyclic loading on the reconsolidation behaviours of marine sedimentary clays under intermittent drainage conditions.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 141: 106510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2020.106510.
Gu, C., J. Wang, Y. Q. Cai, L. Sun, P. Wang, and Q. Y. Dong. 2016. “Deformation characteristics of overconsolidated clay sheared under constant and variable confining pressure.” Soils Found. 56 (3): 427–439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2016.04.009.
Gu, C., J. Wang, Y. Q. Cai, Z. X. Yang, and Y. F. Gao. 2012. “Undrained cyclic triaxial behavior of saturated clays under variable confining pressure.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 40: 118–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2012.03.011.
Guo, L., J. Wang, Y. Q. Cai, H. L. Liu, Y. F. Gao, and H. L. Sun. 2013. “Undrained deformation behavior of saturated soft clay under long-term cyclic loading.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 50: 28–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2013.01.029.
Huang, B., H. Ding, Y. M. Chen, and X. C. Bian. 2010. “Experimental study of undrained strength property of saturated silty clay after traffic load.” Chin. J. Rock Mech. Eng. 29 (S2): 3986–3993.
Huang, J. H., J. Chen, W. H. Ke, Y. Zhong, Y. Lu, and S. Yi. 2021a. “Damping ratio evolution of saturated Ningbo clays under cyclic confining pressure.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 143: 106581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2021.106581.
Huang, J. H., J. Chen, W. H. Ke, Y. Zhong, Y. Lu, and S. Yi. 2021b. “Post-cyclic mechanical behaviors of laterite clay with different cyclic confining pressures and degrees of reconsolidation.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 151: 106986. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2021.106986.
Huang, J. H., J. Chen, D. F. Song, Y. Zhong, X. D. Fu, and X. L. Yan. 2023. “Impacts of drained conditions and degree of reconsolidation on postcyclic mechanical behaviors of laterite clay.” Int. J. Geomech. 23 (3): 06023002. https://doi.org/10.1061/IJGNAI.GMENG-8116.
Hyodo, M., A. F. L. Hyde, Y. Yamamoto, and T. Fujii. 1999. “Cyclic shear strength of undisturbed and remoulded marine clays.” Soils Found. 39 (2): 45–58. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.39.2_45.
Lei, H. Y., M. Liu, S. X. Feng, J. J. Liu, and M. J. Jiang. 2020. “Cyclic behavior of Tianjin soft clay under intermittent combined-frequency cyclic loading.” Int. J. Geomech. 20 (10): 04020186. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001805.
Li, Y. F., R. S. Nie, W. M. Leng, Y. P. Guo, J. L. Dong, and B. L. Sun. 2021a. “Cumulative permanent strain and critical dynamic stress of silty filler for subgrade subjected to intermittent cyclic loading of trains.” Bull. Eng. Geol. Environ. 80: 3079–3096. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02125-5.
Li, Y. F., R. S. Nie, Z. R. Yue, W. M. Leng, and Y. P. Guo. 2021b. “Dynamic behaviors of fine-grained subgrade soil under single-stage and multi-stage intermittent cyclic loading: Permanent deformation and its prediction model.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 142: 106548. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2020.106548.
Mamou, A., W. Powrie, J. A. Priest, and C. Clayton. 2017. “The effects of drainage on the behaviour of railway track foundation materials during cyclic loading.” Géotechnique 67 (10): 845–854. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.15.P.278.
MWR (Ministry of Water Resources). 2019. Standard for geotechnical testing method. GB/T 50123-2019. Beijing: MWR.
Nie, R. S., Y. F. Li, W. M. Leng, H. H. Mei, J. L. Dong, and X. X. Chen. 2020a. “Deformation characteristics of fine-grained soil under cyclic loading with intermittence.” Acta Geotech. 15: 3041–3054. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-020-00955-3.
Nie, R. S., H. H. Mei, W. M. Leng, B. Ruan, Y. F. Li, and X. X. Chen. 2020b. “Characterization of permanent deformation of fine-grained subgrade soil under intermittent loading.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 139: 106395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2020.106395.
Rondon, H. A., T. Wichtmann, T. Triantafyllidis, and A. Lizcano. 2009. “Comparison of cyclic triaxial behavior of unbound granular material under constant and variable confining pressure.” J. Transp. Eng. 135 (7): 467–478. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)TE.1943-5436.0000009.
Sakai, A., L. Samang, and N. Miura. 2003. “Partially-drained cyclic behavior and its application to the settlement of a low embankment road on silty-clay.” Soils Found. 43 (1): 33–46. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.43.33.
Simomsen, E., and U. Isacsson. 2001. “Soil behavior during freezing and thawing using variable and constant confining pressure triaxial tests.” Can. Geotech. J. 38: 863–875. https://doi.org/10.1139/t01-007.
Sun, L., C. Gu, and P. Wang. 2015. “Effects of cyclic confining pressure on the deformation characteristics of natural soft clay.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 78: 99–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2015.07.010.
Tang, L., M. H. Yan, X. Z. Ling, and S. Tian. 2016. “Dynamic behaviours of railway’s base course materials subjected to long-term low level cyclic loading: Experimental study and empirical model.” Géotechnique 67 (6): 537–545. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.16.P.152.
Wang, Y., S. X. Zhang, S. Yin, X. Y. Liu, and X. W. Zhang. 2020. “Accumulated plastic strain behavior of granite residual soil under cycle loading.” Int. J. Geomech. 20 (11): 04020205. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001850.
Wang, Y. Z., J. C. Lei, Y. C. Wang, and S. J. Li. 2019. “Post-cyclic shear behavior of reconstituted marine silty clay with different degrees of reconsolidation.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 116: 530–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2018.10.042.
Wichtmann, T., A. Niemunis, and T. H. Triantafyllidis. 2007. “On the influence of the polarization and the shape of the strain loop on strain accumulation in sand under high-cyclic loading.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 27 (1): 14–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2006.05.002.
Wijewickreme, D., and M. V. Sanin. 2010. “Postcyclic reconsolidation strains in low-plastic Fraser river silt due to dissipation of excess pore-water pressures.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 136 (10): 1347–1357. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000349.
Yıldırım, H., and H. Erşan. 2007. “Settlements under consecutive series of cyclic loading.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 27 (6): 577–585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2006.10.007.
Zheng, Q., T. Xia, Z. Ding, and S. He. 2019. “The effect of periodic intermittency on the cyclic behavior of marine sedimentary clay.” Mar. Georesour. Geotechnol. 37 (8): 945–959. https://doi.org/10.1080/1064119X.2018.1508527.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 24 • Issue 12 • December 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 4, 2024
Accepted: Jun 14, 2024
Published online: Sep 30, 2024
Published in print: Dec 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Mar 1, 2025
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.