Effect of Microfabric on Mechanical Behavior of Kaolin Clay Using Cubical True Triaxial Testing
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 133, Issue 4
Abstract
Various aspects of the mechanical behavior of kaolin clay are discussed in light of experimental observations from a series of strain controlled true triaxial undrained tests performed on cubical kaolin clay specimens with flocculated and dispersed microfabric, using a fully automated flexible boundary experimental setup with real-time feedback control system. The laboratory procedures used to prepare flocculated and dispersed microfabric specimens are presented. Mercury intrusion porosimetry is used to evaluate the pore structure of these specimens. The influence of microfabric on the consolidation behavior of kaolin clay is evaluated based on the data obtained from consolidation during constant rate of strain tests and the isotropic consolidation during true triaxial tests. Undrained tests on kaolin clay show that the following vary with microfabric of specimen: The shear stiffness, excess pore pressure generated during shear, and strength and strain to failure. For both microfabrics, the observed strength behavior using cubical triaxial testing shows a similar pattern of variation with applied stress anisotropy; hence, only a marginal influence of fabric-induced anisotropy.
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Acknowledgments
Financial support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) through Grant Nos. NSFCMS-9872618 and NSFCMS-0296111 is gratefully acknowledged. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 133 • Issue 4 • April 2007
Pages: 433 - 444
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Oct 19, 2004
Accepted: Aug 21, 2006
Published online: Apr 1, 2007
Published in print: Apr 2007
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