Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Yielding Behavior of Natural Clay Considering Stress History Subjected to K0-Consolidation

  • Research paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Civil Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated the yielding behavior of natural Lianyungang clay by considering the stress history. A series of drained triaxial tests with different stress paths were conducted on the undisturbed Lianyungang clay under K0-Consolidation. A modified yield function was developed for the natural soft clay, for which the parameter \(\eta _{{K_{0} }}\) was replaced by ηK in the equation for the yield surface from the existing model. The modified equation can describe the effects of stress history and anisotropy on the natural soft clay, and capture the degradation of soil structure. Results showed that the yield surface would rotate clockwise with increasing pre-consolidation stress. As the pre-consolidation stress increases, the slope of the symmetric axis decreases from ηK to close to zero. An exponential equation can be well fitted between the slope of the symmetric axis of the yield surface and the pre-consolidation stress (or over-consolidation ratio, OCR). The effects of stress history and loss of the soil structure are captured well by the modified equation for the yield surface. Angles (θ) between direction of plastic flow under different stress paths and the normal direction of yield surface vary from − 30° to 36°, suggesting the direction of plastic flow in the post-yield state can be described by the associated flow rule.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Brand EW, Brenner RP (eds) (1981) Soft clay engineering (Vol. 20). Elsevier Scientific Pub, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  2. Chandler R (2000) The Third Glossop Lecture: Clay sediments in depositional basins: the geotechnical cycle. Q J Eng GeolHydrogeol 33(1):7–39. https://doi.org/10.1144/qjegh.33.1.7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Cotecchia F, Chandler RJ (2000) A general framework for the mechanical behaviour of clays. Géotechnique 50(4):431–447. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2000.50.4.431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Leroueil S, Vaughan PR (1990) The general and congruent effects of structure in natural soils and weak rocks. Géotechnique 40(3):467–488. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1990.40.3.467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Burland JB (1990) On the compressibility and shear strength of natural clays. Géotechnique 40(3):329–378. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1990.40.3.329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bozzano F, Bretschneider A, Martino S, Prestininzi A (2014) Time variations of the K0 coefficient in overconsolidated clays due to morphological evolution of slopes. Eng Geol 169:69–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2013.11.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Cai Y, Hao B, Gu C, Wang J, Pan L (2018) Effect of anisotropic consolidation stress paths on the undrained shear behavior of reconstituted Wenzhou clay. Eng Geol 242:23–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2018.05.016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Mayne PW (1985) Stress Anisotropy Effects on Clay Strength. J Geotech Eng 111(3):356–366. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)0733-9410(1985)111:3(356)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Nishimura S, Minh NA, Jardine RJ (2007) Shear strength anisotropy of natural London Clay. Géotechnique 57(1):49–62. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2007.57.1.49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Shi J, Qian S, Zeng LL, Bian X (2015) Influence of anisotropic consolidation stress paths on compression behaviour of reconstituted Wenzhou clay. Géotech Lett 5(4):275–280. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgele.15.00113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Toyota H, Takada S, Susami A (2018) Mechanical properties of saturated and unsaturated cohesive soils with stress-induced anisotropy. Géotechnique 68(10):883–892. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.17.p.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Wang L, Shen K, Ye S (2008) Undrained shear strength of K0 consolidated soft soils. Int J Geomech 8(2):105–113. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-3641(2008)8:2(105)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Wang Q, Du X, Gong Q (2014) Undrained shear strength of K0 consolidated soft clays under triaxial and plane strain conditions. Int J Appl Mech 6(3):1450032. https://doi.org/10.1142/S175882511450032X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Yu C, Xu Q, Yin Z (2013) Softening response under undrained compression following anisotropic consolidation. Journal of Central South University 20(6):1703–1712. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-013-1663-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Roscoe KH, Schofield AN, Wroth CP (1958) On the yielding of soils. Géotechnique 8(1):22–53. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1958.8.1.22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Guo S, Teng Y (2016) Generalized consolidation theory for anisotropic saturated soils. Int J Geomech 16(3):06015009. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000563

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Huang M, Liu Y, Sheng D (2011) Simulation of yielding and stress–strain behavior of shanghai soft clay. Comput Geotech 38(3):341–353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2010.12.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Karstunen M, Rezania M, Sivasithamparam N, Yin Z (2013) Comparison of anisotropic rate-dependent models for modeling consolidation of soft clays. Int J Geomech 1:115–119. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Kavvadas M, Amorosi A (2000) A constitutive model for structured soils. Géotechnique 50(3):263–273. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2000.50.3.263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Kamei T, Sakajo S (1995) Evaluation of undrained shear behaviour of k0 consolidated cohesive soils using elasto-viscoplastic model. Comput Geotech 17:397–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(96)85016-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Sivasithampara N, Castro J (2015) An anisotropic elastoplastic model for soft clays based on logarithmic contractancy. Int J Numer Anal Meth Geomech 40(4):596–621. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.2418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Yang C, Liu X, Liu X, Yang C, Carter JP (2015) Constitutive modelling of Otaniemi soft clay in both natural and reconstituted states. Comput Geotech 70:83–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2015.07.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Yildiz A, Uysal F (2016) Modelling of anisotropy and consolidation effect on behaviour of sunshine embankment: Australia. Int J Civil Eng 14(2):83–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-016-0018-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Bica A, Luiz Antnio B, Vendramin D, Martins FB, Gobbi F (2008) Anisotropic shear strength of a residual soil of sandstone. Revue Canadienne De Géotechnique 45(3):367–376. https://doi.org/10.1139/T07-098

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Cui YJ, Delage P, Sultan N (2010) Yielding and plastic behaviour of Boom clay. Géotechnique 60(9):657–666. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.7.00142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Díaz-Rodríguez JA, Leroueil S, Alemán JD (1992) Yielding of Mexico City clay and other natural clays. J Geotech Eng 118(7):981–995. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1992)118:7(981)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Graham J, Li E (1985) Comparison of natural and remolded plastic clay. J Geotech Eng 111(7):865–881. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1985)111:7(865)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Memarzadeh I, Lashkari A, Shourijeh PT (2017) Consolidation behavior of structured clayey soils: a case study on shiraz fine alluvial strata. Int J Civil Eng 16:1435–1444. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-017-0163-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Mitchell RJ (1970) On the yielding and mechanical strength of Leda clays. Can Geotech J 7(3):297–312. https://doi.org/10.1139/t70-036

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Norouzi N, Lashkari A (2021) An anisotropic critical state plasticity model with stress ratio-dependent fabric tensor. Iran J Sci Technol-Trans Civil Eng 45:2577–2594. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40996-020-00448-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Roscoe KH, Thurairajah A, Schofield AN (1963) Yielding of clays in states wetter than critical. Géotechnique 13(3):211–240. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1963.13.3.211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Salimi MJ, Lashkari A (2020) Undrained true triaxial response of initially anisotropic particulate assemblies using CFM-DEM. Comput Geotech 124:103509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2020.103509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Seah TH, Koslanant S (2003) Anisotropic consolidation behavior of soft bangkok clay. Geotech Test J 26(3):266–276. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ11300J

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Sivakumar V, Doran IG, Graham J, Johnson A (2001) The effect of anisotropic elasticity on the yielding characteristics of overconsolidated natural clay. Can Geotech J 38(1):125–137. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-38-1-125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Smith PR, Hight DW, Jardine RJ (1992) The yielding of Bothkennar clay. Géotechnique 44(2):257–274. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1992.42.2.257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Tavenas F, Leroueil S (1977) Effects of stresses and time on yielding of clays. In: Proc. 9th Int. Conf. on Soil Mech. and Found. Engrg., Tokyo, Japan, 1: 319–326

  37. Wong PKK (1975) Yielding and plastic flow of sensitive cemented clay. Géotechnique 25(4):763–782. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1975.25.4.763

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Graham J, Noonan ML, Lew KV (1983) Yield states and stress-strain relationships in a natural plastic clay. Can Geotech J 20(3):502–516. https://doi.org/10.1139/t83-058

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Wheeler SJ, Näätänen A, Karstunen M, Lojander M (2003) An anisotropic elastoplastic model for soft clays. Can Geotech J 40(2):403–418. https://doi.org/10.1139/T02-119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. BS1377, Part2 (1990). Methods of test for Soils for civil engineering purposes. British Standards Institution. London. UK

  41. ASTM (2020) Standard Test Method for Consolidated Drained Triaxial Compression Test for Soils. ASTM D7181–20, West Conshohocken, PA.

  42. Nakano M, Nakai K, Noda T, Asaoka A (2005) Simulation of shear and one-dimensional compression behavior of naturally deposited clays by super/subloading yield surface cam-clay model. Soils Found 45(1):141–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2004.08.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41402251 and No. 51978315), which are highly appreciated. The opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the sponsors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China

    Weijuan Geng, Daniel Kumah & Jie Yin

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), University of Minho, 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal

    Shoaib Ahmed

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Jiangsu Urban and Rural Construction College, Changzhou, 213147, China

    Jian Xiao

Authors
  1. Weijuan Geng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daniel Kumah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jie Yin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shoaib Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jian Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jie Yin.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work, there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, the manuscript entitled.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 503 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Geng, W., Kumah, D., Yin, J. et al. Yielding Behavior of Natural Clay Considering Stress History Subjected to K0-Consolidation. Int J Civ Eng 21, 149–158 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-022-00737-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-022-00737-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation