Mechanical Behavior of Natural Granite Residual Soil in Simple Shear
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 10
Abstract
The geotechnical behavior of residual soil differs essentially from that of sedimentary soil because of the weathering pedogenesis of the former, thereby posing significant difficulties in predicting soil response. In this study, the shear strength and stiffness of natural granite residual soil are evaluated through systematic monotonic and cyclic simple shear tests performed using a hollow-cylinder apparatus. Simple shear testing provides critical information about soil behavior under plane-strain conditions and involves principal stress rotation, which is beyond the scope of triaxial shear tests. The mechanical properties of granite residual soil measured in monotonic simple shear are found to be different from those obtained through other routine laboratory tests such as triaxial shear and resonant column tests. Whereas the conventional triaxial compression test gives unconservatively high soil strength parameters, those from simple shear testing appear more reasonable than the triaxial results. The cyclic behavior of residual soil in simple shear is dominated by the cyclic stress ratio, a higher value of which results in more significant deformation and pore water pressure build-up as well as more rapid stiffness degradation. This is particularly the case when the cyclic stress ratio exceeds a critical value in the range of 0.125–0.1875. No consistent pattern can be established for how the loading frequency influences soil responses within the range of 0.01–1.0 Hz. This study enriches the techniques for characterizing residual soil and provides new data sets about its mechanical behavior.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The financial support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 42307212, 41972285, 42177148, and 52378343) and Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (2022CFA014) are thanked. Special thanks go to Professor Satoshi Nishimura from Hokkaido University, whose Ph.D. works at Imperial College London have inspired the first author greatly.
References
Airey, D. W., and D. M. Wood. 1987. “An evaluation of direct simple shear tests on clay.” Géotechnique 37 (1): 25–35. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1987.37.1.25.
Amoroso, S. 2011. “G- decay curves by seismic dilatometer (SDMT).” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil, Construction-Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of L’Aquila.
Ampadu, S. K., and F. Tatsuoka. 1993. “A hollow cylinder torsional simple shear apparatus capable of a wide range of shear strain measurement.” Geotech. Test. J. 16 (1): 3–17. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ10262J.
Andersen, K. H. 2009. “Bearing capacity under cyclic loading-offshore, along the coast, and on land. The 21st Bjerrum Lecture presented in Oslo, 23 November 2007.” Can. Geotech. J. 46 (5): 513–535. https://doi.org/10.1139/T09-003.
Andersen, K. H., and R. Lauritzsen. 1988. “Bearing capacity for foundations with cyclic loads.” J. Geotech. Eng. 114 (5): 540–555. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1988)114:5(540).
Baligh, M. M. 1985. “Strain path method.” J. Geotech. Eng. 111 (9): 1108–1136. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1985)111:9(1108).
Begonha, A., and M. A. Sequeira Braga. 2002. “Weathering of the Oporto granite: Geotechnical and physical properties.” Catena 49 (1–2): 57–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0341-8162(02)00016-4.
Blight, G. E., and E. C. Leong. 2012. Mechanics of residual soils. London: CRC Press.
Bolton, M. D., and J. M. R. Wilson. 1988. “An experimental and theoretical comparison between static and dynamic torsional soil tests.” Géotechnique 39 (4): 585–599. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1989.39.4.585.
Brosse, A. M., R. J. Jardine, and S. Nishimura. 2017. “The undrained shear strength anisotropy of four Jurassic to Eocene stiff clays.” Géotechnique 67 (8): 653–671. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.15.P.227.
Cai, Y. Q., T. Y. Wu, L. Guo, and J. Wang. 2018. “Stiffness degradation and plastic strain accumulation of clay under cyclic load with principal stress rotation and deviatoric stress variation.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 144 (5): 04018021. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001854.
Chiu, C. F., and C. W. W. Ng. 2014. “Relationships between chemical weathering indices and physical and mechanical properties of decomposed granite.” Eng. Geol. 179 (Sep): 76–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2014.06.021.
Corte, M. B., L. Festugato, and N. C. Consoli. 2019. “Shear strength of a sand under plane strain conditions.” In Proc., 14th Pan-American Conf. on Soil Mechan. and Geotechnical Engineering, 56–64. Amsterdam, Netherlands: IOS Press.
Coutinho, R. Q., M. M. Silva, A. N. D. Santos, and W. A. Lacerda. 2019. “Geotechnical characterization and failure mechanism of landslide in granite residual soil.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 145 (8): 05019004. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002052.
da Fonseca, A. V., and R. Coutinho. 2008. “Characterization of residual soils.” In Proc., 3rd Int. Conf. on Site Characterization, 195–248. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Fanni, R., R. David, and F. Andy. 2022. “On reliability of inferring liquefied shear strengths from simple shear testing.” Soils Found. 62 (3): 101151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2022.101151.
Fante, F., M. M. D. S. Rocha, E. B. Moreira, P. D. M. Prietto, F. D. Rosa, L. D. S. Lopes Júnior, F. S. D. Almeida, and N. C. Consoli. 2022. “Behaviour of a weakly bonded residual soil subjected to monotonic and cyclic loading.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Geotech. Eng. 177 (2): 107–118. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeen.21.00143.
Frydman, S., and M. Talesnick. 1991. “Simple shear of isotropic elasto–plastic soil.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech. 15 (4): 251–270. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.1610150404.
Gratchev, I., and I. Towhata. 2010. “Geotechnical characteristics of volcanic soil from seismically induced Aratozawa landslide, Japan.” Landslides 7 (Dec): 503–510. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-010-0211-2.
Ham, T. G., Y. Nakata, R. Orense, and M. Hyodo. 2010. “Influence of water on the compression behavior of decomposed granite soil.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 136 (5): 697–705. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000274.
Hossain, M. A., and J. H. Yin. 2010. “Behavior of a compacted completely decomposed granite soil from suction controlled direct shear tests.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 136 (1): 189–198. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000189.
Hubler, J. F., A. Athanasopoulos-Zekkos, and D. Zekkos. 2018. “Monotonic and cyclic simple shear response of gravel-sand mixtures.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 115 (Dec): 291–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2018.07.016.
Kluger, M. O., S. Kreiter, V. G. Moon, R. P. Orense, P. R. Mills, and T. Mörz. 2019. “Undrained cyclic shear behaviour of weathered tephra.” Géotechnique 69 (6): 489–500. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.17.P.083.
Kumruzzaman, M., and J.-H. Yin. 2010. “Influences of principal stress direction and intermediate principal stress on the stress–strain–strength behavior of completely decomposed granite.” Can. Geotech. J. 47 (2): 164–179. https://doi.org/10.1139/T09-079.
Lanzo, G., M. Vucetic, and M. Doroudian. 1997. “Reduction of shear modulus at small strains in simple shear.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 123 (11): 1035–1042. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(1997)123:11(1035).
Lin, M. L., T. H. Huang, and J. C. You. 1996. “The effects of frequency on damping properties of sand.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 15 (4): 269–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/0267-7261(95)00045-3.
Liu, X. Y., X. W. Zhang, L. W. Kong, C. Chen, and G. Wang. 2021a. “Mechanical response of granite residual soil subjected to impact loading.” Int. J. Geomech. 21 (6): 04021079. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0002034.
Liu, X. Y., X. W. Zhang, L. W. Kong, X. M. Li, and G. Wang. 2021b. “Effect of cementation on the small-strain stiffness of granite residual soil.” Soils Found. 61 (2): 520–532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2021.02.001.
Liu, X. Y., X. W. Zhang, L. W. Kong, G. Wang, and C. S. Li. 2023. “Multiscale structural characterizations of anisotropic natural granite residual soil.” Can. Geotech. J. 60 (9): 1383–1400. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2022-0188.
Liu, X. Y., X. W. Zhang, L. W. Kong, S. Yin, and Y. Q. Xu. 2022. “Shear strength anisotropy of natural granite residual soil.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 148 (1): 04021168. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002709.
Mao, X., and M. Fahey. 2003. “Behaviour of calcareous soils in undrained cyclic simple shear.” Géotechnique 53 (8): 715–727. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2003.53.8.715.
Marchetti, S. 1980. “In-situ tests by flat dilatometer.” J. Geotech. Eng. Div. 106 (3): 299–321. https://doi.org/10.1061/AJGEB6.00009348890148-9062(80)90781-0.
Martins, F. B., P. M. V. Ferreira, J. A. A. Flores, L. A. Bressani, and A. V. D. Bica. 2005. “Interaction between geological and geotechnical investigations of a sandstone residual soil.” Eng. Geol. 78 (1–2): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2004.10.003.
Menkiti, C. O. 1994. “Behaviour of clayey-sand, with particular reference to principal stress rotation.” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Engineering, Univ. of London.
Mitchell, J. K., and K. Soga. 2005. Fundamentals of soil behavior. New York: Wiley.
Mohamedzein, Y. E. A., and M. H. Aboud. 2006. “Compressibility and shear strength of a residual soil.” Geotech. Geol. Eng. 24 (Jun): 1385–1401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-005-2630-8.
Mortezaie, A. R., and M. Vucetic. 2013. “Effect of frequency and vertical stress on cyclic degradation and pore water pressure in clay in the NGI simple shear device.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 139 (10): 1727–1737. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000922.
Ng, C. W. W., and E. H. Y. Leung. 2007. “Determination of shear-wave velocities and shear moduli of completely decomposed tuff.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 133 (6): 630–640. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2007)133:6(630).
Nishimura, S. 2005. “Laboratory study on anisotropy of natural London clay.” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London.
Nishimura, S., R. J. Jardine, and A. Brosse. 2008. “Simple shear testing of London Clay in hollow cylinder apparatus.” In Proc., 4th Int. Symp. on Deformation Characteristics of Geomaterials, 199–206. Amsterdam, Netherlands: IOS Press.
Oda, M., and J. Konishi. 1982. “Microscopic deformation mechanism of granular material in simple shear.” Soils Found. 14 (4): 25–38. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf1972.14.4_25.
Okewale, I. A., and M. R. Coop. 2018. “Suitability of different approaches for analyzing and predicting the behavior of decomposed volcanic rocks.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 144 (9): 04018064. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001944.
Ola, S. A. 1980. “Mineralogical properties of some Nigerian residual soils in relation with building problems.” Eng. Geol. 15 (1–2): 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7952(80)90027-7.
Pereira, J. H., D. G. Fredlund, M. P. Cardão Neto, and G. D. F. Gitirana Jr. 2005. “Hydraulic behavior of collapsible compacted gneiss soil.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 131 (10): 1264–1273. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2005)131:10(1264)).
Porovic, E. 1995. “Investigation of soil behaviour using a resonant-column torsional shear hollow-cylinder apparatus.” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Engineering, Univ. of London.
Prasanna, R., N. Sinthujan, and S. Sivathayalan. 2020. “Effects of initial direction and subsequent rotation of principal stresses on liquefaction potential of loose sand.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 146 (3): 04019130. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002182.
Prasanna, R., and S. Sivathayalan. 2021. “A hollow cylinder torsional shear device to explore behavior of soils subjected to complex rotation of principal stresses.” Geotech. Test. J. 44 (6): 1595–1616. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20190394.
Premnath, S., M. Pouragha, R. N. Prasanna, and S. Sivathayalan. 2023. “Effects of principal strain direction and intermediate principal strain on undrained shear behavior of sand.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 149 (7): 04023048. https://doi.org/10.1061/JGGEFK.GTENG-11058.
Randolph, M. F., and C. P. Wroth. 1981. “Application of the failure state in undrained simple shear to the shaft capacity of driven piles.” Géotechnique 31 (1): 143–157. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1981.31.1.143.
Seed, H. B., R. T. Wong, I. M. Idriss, and K. Tokimatsu. 1986. “Moduli and damping factors for dynamic analyses of cohesionless soils.” J. Geotech. Eng. 112 (11): 1016–1032. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1986)112:11(1016).
Shahnazari, H., Y. Jafarian, M. A. Tutunchian, and R. Rezvani. 2016. “Undrained cyclic and monotonic behavior of Hormuz calcareous sand using hollow cylinder simple shear tests.” Int. J. Civ. Eng. 14 (Jun): 209–219. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-016-0021-6.
Shibuya, S., and D. W. Hight. 1987. “On the stress path in simple shear.” Géotechnique 37 (4): 511–515. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1987.37.4.511.
Shu, R. J., L. W. Kong, T. G. Li, T. Jian, and Z. H. Zhou. 2023. “Accumulated plastic deformation behavior of granite residual soil under cyclic loading considering the influence of initial unloading.” Transp. Geotech. 41 (Jul): 101004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2023.101004.
Talesnick, M., and S. Frydman. 1991. “Simple shear of an undisturbed soft marine clay in NGI and torsional shear equipment.” Geotech. Test. J. 14 (2): 180–194. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ10560J.
Vaughan, P. R., and C. W. Kwan. 1984. “Weathering, structure and in situ stress in residual soils.” Géotechnique 34 (1): 43–59. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1984.34.1.43.
Vucetic, M., and R. Dobry. 1991. “Effect of soil plasticity on cyclic response.” J. Geotech. Eng. 117 (1): 89–107. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1991)117:1(89).
Vucetic, M., and S. Lacasse. 1982. “Specimen size effect in simple shear test.” J. Geotech. Eng. Div. 108 (12): 1567–1585. https://doi.org/10.1061/AJGEB6.0001395.
Wang, J., Z. Zhou, X. Q. Hu, L. Guo, and Y. Q. Cai. 2019. “Effects of principal stress rotation and cyclic confining pressure on behavior of soft clay with different frequencies.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 118 (Mar): 75–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2018.12.013.
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.
Wichtmann, T., K. Andersen, M. Sjursen, and T. Berre. 2013. “Cyclic tests on high-quality undisturbed block samples of soft marine Norwegian clay.” Can. Geotech. J. 50 (4): 400–412. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2011-0390.
Wu, T. Y., Y. Q. Cai, L. Guo, D. S. Ling, and J. Wang. 2017. “Influence of shear stress level on cyclic deformation behaviour of intact Wenzhou soft clay under traffic loading.” Eng. Geol. 228 (Oct): 61–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.06.013.
Yin, S., P. F. Liu, L. W. Kong, X. W. Zhang, Y. J. Qi, and J. N. Huang. 2023. “Accumulated plastic strain behavior of granite residual soil under traffic loading.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 164 (Jan): 107617. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2022.107617.
Yoshimine, M., K. Ishihara, and W. Vargas. 1998. “Effects of principal stress direction and intermediate principal stress on undrained shear behavior of sand.” Soils Found. 38 (3): 179–188. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.38.3_179.
Zhang, C. L., G. L. Jiang, L. J. Su, and W. M. Liu. 2018. “Dynamic behaviour of weathered red mudstone in Sichuan (China) under triaxial cyclic loading.” J. Mt. Sci. 15 (8): 1789–1806. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-017-4756-6.
Zhang, J., R. D. Andrus, and C. H. Juang. 2005. “Normalized shear modulus and material damping ratio relationships.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 131 (4): 453–464. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2005)131:4(453).
Zhang, X. W., X. Y. Liu, C. Chen, L. W. Kong, and G. Wang. 2020. “Engineering geology of residual soil derived from mudstone in Zimbabwe.” Eng. Geol. 277 (2020): 105785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2020.105785.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 10 • October 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 7, 2023
Accepted: Apr 18, 2024
Published online: Jul 18, 2024
Published in print: Oct 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Dec 18, 2024
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.