Postcyclic Stiffness Behaviors of Laterite Clay under Various Conditions
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 23, Issue 4
Abstract
The changes in mechanical behaviors of soils after cyclic loading will lead to the generation of additional settlements. The postcyclic stiffness characteristics of soils are usually analyzed by using conventional cyclic triaxial tests, in which only cyclic deviator stress is applied under undrained conditions; however, the cyclic variations of both axial stress and horizontal stress under traffic loading were observed. Moreover, the pore water was permitted to drain under cyclic loading. Therefore, cyclic triaxial tests under partially drained conditions were performed to investigate the postcyclic stiffness characteristics of remolded laterite clay. The influences of variables, such as the cyclic deviator stress, number of cycles, cyclic confining pressure, and degree of reconsolidation, were evaluated. The postcyclic elastic modulus increases as the cyclic deviator stress, number of cycles, and degree of reconsolidation increase, while it decreases as the cyclic confining pressure increases. Nevertheless, the ratio of the postcyclic elastic modulus with and without cyclic confining pressure decreases as the cyclic confining pressure increases; the postcyclic elastic modulus ratio of the degree of reconsolidation to without reconsolidation increases linearly with the increasing degree of reconsolidation. Based on the result, an empirical formula for the postcyclic elastic modulus, considering the effects of both cyclic confining pressure and the degree of reconsolidation, was proposed. The predicted results match the measured data well, indicating that the formula is valid for the prediction of the postcyclic elastic modulus of laterite clays after cyclic loading.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51909259, 52079135), the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS (No. 2021325), and the Open Research Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (No. SKLGP2022K010).
Notation
The following symbols are used in this paper:
- A, B, α, λ, and κ
- fitting parameters;
- (Eo)cy
- postcyclic elastic modulus for specimens with cyclic loading history (MPa);
- postcyclic elastic modulus for specimens without reconsolidation (MPa);
- postcyclic elastic modulus for specimens under various conditions (MPa);
- (Es)cy
- postcyclic secant modulus for specimens with cyclic loading history (MPa);
- N
- number of cycles;
- pampl
- amplitude of the cyclic mean principle total stress (kPa);
- initial effective mean principal stress (kPa);
- pu
- back pressure applied to the specimens during reconsolidation (kPa);
- q
- deviator stress during the postcyclic shearing process (kPa);
- qampl
- amplitude of the cyclic deviator stress (kPa);
- Ur
- degree of reconsolidation (%);
- VCP tests
- cyclic triaxial tests with variable confining pressures;
- Δucy
- excess pore-water pressure induced during the cyclic loading process (kPa);
- Δure
- dissipated excess pore-water pressure during the reconsolidation process (kPa);
- ɛ
- axial strain induced during the postcyclic shearing process (%);
- η
- slope of stress path;
- amplitude of the cyclic first principal stress (kPa); and
- amplitude of the cyclic confining pressure (kPa).
References
Andersen, K. H., A. Kleven, and D. Heien. 1988. “Cyclic soil data for design of gravity structures.” J. Geotech. Eng. 114 (5): 517–539. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1988)114:5(517).
Andersen, K. H., J. H. Pool, S. F. Brown, and W. F. Rosebrand. 1980. “Cyclic and static laboratory tests on Drammen clay.” J. Geotech. Eng. Div. 106 (5): 499–529. https://doi.org/10.1061/AJGEB6.0000957.
Austin, G. 1979. “The behavior of Keuper Marl under undrained creep and repeated loading.” Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Nottingham.
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.
Chen, C., Z. M. Zhou, X. W. Zhang, and G. F. Xu. 2018. “Behavior of amorphous peaty soil under long-term cyclic loading.” Int. J. Geomech. 18 (9): 04018115. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001254.
Diazrodriguez, J. A. 1989. “Behavior of Mexico city clay subjected to undrained repeated loading.” Can. Geotech. J. 26 (1): 159–162. https://doi.org/10.1139/t89-016.
Dobry, R., and M. Vucetic. 1987. “Dynamic properties and seismic response of soft clay deposits.” Vol. 2 of Proc., Int. Symp. on Geotechnical Engineering of Soft Soils, 49–85. Mexico: Mexican Geotechnical Society.
Gu, C., Z. Q. Gu, Y. Q. Cai, J. Wang, and D. S. Ling. 2017. “Dynamic modulus characteristics of saturated clays under variable confining pressure.” Can. Geotech. J. 54 (5): 729–735. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2016-0441.
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, B., H. D. Shi, D. S. Ling, and Y. M. Chen. 2012. “Comparisons of static and dynamic behaviors between two silty clays by test.” Rock Soil Mech. 33 (3): 665–673.
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.
Hyde, A. F. L., T. Higuchi, and K. Yasuhara. 2007. “Postcyclic recompression, stiffness, and consolidated cyclic strength of silt.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 133 (4): 416–423. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2007)133:4(416).
Hyde, A. F. L., and S. J. Ward. 1986. “The effects of cyclic loading on the undrained shear strength of silty clay.” Mar. Geotechnol. 6 (3): 299–324. https://doi.org/10.1080/10641198609388192.
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.
Hyodo, M., K. Yasuhara, and K. Hirao. 1992. “Prediction of clay behavior in undrained and partially drained cyclic triaxial tests.” Soils Found. 32 (4): 117–127. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf1972.32.4_117.
Kaya, Z., and A. Erken. 2015. “Cyclic and post-cyclic monotonic behavior of Adapazari soils.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 77: 83–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2015.05.003.
Lekarp, F., U. Isacsson, and A. Dawson. 2000. “State of the art. I: Resilient response of unbound aggregates.” J. Transp. Eng. 126 (1): 66–75. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-947X(2000)126:1(66).
Matsui, T., M. A. Bahr, and N. Abe. 1992. “Estimation of shear characteristics degradation and stress–strain relationship of saturated clays after cyclic loading.” Soils Found. 32 (1): 161–172. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf1972.32.161.
Matsui, T., H. Ohara, and T. Ito. 1980. “Cyclic stress–strain history and shear characteristics of clays.” J. Geotech. Eng. 106 (10): 1101–1120.
MWR (Ministry of Water Resources). 2019. Standard for geotechnical testing method. GB/T 50123-2019. Beijing: MWR.
Powrie, W., L. A. Yang, and C. Clayton. 2007. “Stress changes in the ground below ballasted railway track during train passage.” Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part F: J. Rail Rapid Transit. 221 (2): 247–261. https://doi.org/10.1243/0954409JRRT95.
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.
Soroush, A., and J. H. Soltani. 2009. “Pre- and post-cyclic behavior of mixed clayey soils.” Can. Geotech. J. 46: 115–128. https://doi.org/10.1139/T08-109.
Sun, L., 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, Y. Q., Z. D. Cui, X. Zhang, and S. K. Zhao. 2008. “Dynamic response and pore pressure model of the saturated soft clay around the tunnel under vibration loading of Shanghai subway.” Eng. Geol. 98 (3–4): 126–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2008.01.014.
Wang, S. Y., R. Luna, and S. Onyejekwe. 2015a. “Effect of initial consolidation condition on postcyclic undrained monotonic shear behavior of Mississippi River Valley silt.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 142 (2): 04015075. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001401.
Wang, S. Y., R. Luna, and J. S. Yang. 2013. “Postcyclic behavior of low-plasticity silt with limited excess pore pressures.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 54: 39–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2013.07.016.
Wang, S. Y., R. Luna, and H. H. Zhao. 2015b. “Cyclic and post-cyclic shear behavior of low-plasticity silt with varying clay content.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 75: 112–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2015.03.015.
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, X. L. Gong, Y. C. Wang, and P. B. Yang. 2018. “Post-cyclic undrained shear behavior of marine silty clay under various loading conditions.” Ocean Eng. 158: 152–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2018.03.081.
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.
Yasuhara, K. 1994. “Postcyclic undrained strength for cohesive soils.” J. Geotech. Eng. 120 (11): 1961–1979. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1994)120:11(1961).
Yasuhara, K., K. Hirao, H. Fujiwara, and S. UHe. 1984. Undrained shear behaviour of quasi-overconsolidated seabed clay induced by cyclic loading. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer.
Yasuhara, K., K. Hirao, and A. F. L. Hyde. 1992. “Effects of cyclic loading on undrained strength and compressibility of clay.” Soils Found. 32 (1): 100–116. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf1972.32.100.
Yasuhara, K., and A. F. L. Hyde. 1997. “Method for estimating postcyclic undrained secant modulus of clays.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 123 (3): 204–211. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(1997)123:3(204).
Yasuhara, K., S. Murakami, B. W. Song, S. Yokokawa, and A. F. L. Hyde. 2003. “Postcyclic degradation of strength and stiffness for low plasticity silt.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 129 (8): 756–769. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2003)129:8(756).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 23 • Issue 4 • April 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 1, 2022
Accepted: Nov 12, 2022
Published online: Jan 18, 2023
Published in print: Apr 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Jun 18, 2023
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.