A deep retaining structure in till and sand. Part I: Stress path effects

Abstract

Laboratory investigation of the stress–strain behaviour of glacial till (stiff silty clay) and dense preglacial sand have been carried out. Special attention has been devoted to investigation of the influence of different stress paths on the stress–strain response of these materials. Since these tests were performed primarily for an analytical study of the behaviour of a deep retaining structure, the stress paths chosen for testing were typical of stress conditions for this field situation. Triaxial and plane strain drained tests on till were run in passive compression (with increasing major principal stress and constant minor principal stress) and in active compression (with constant major principal stress and decreasing minor principal stress). On the sand, only triaxial tests were carried out. These experiments were in passive compression and in active extension (with decreasing major principal stress and constant minor principal stress).The results of different tests were compared at corresponding stress and strain levels. They indicated an appreciably decreased stiffness along the passive compression stress path compared with that in the active compression and active extension tests. Also, a comparison between the triaxial and plane strain tests for the till showed a marked influence of the intermediate principal stress. Although the results were intended for use in a stress path dependent, nonlinear elastic analysis they are discussed and explained in terms of a more general elastoplastic model of soil behaviour. Keywords: stress–strain relationship, stress path, laboratory testing, stiff clay, dense sand.