Determination of shear strength parameters of compacted high plasticity clay soils based on different laboratory tests

Abstract

In civil engineering projects, soils are compacted to improve their engineering behavior and properties. Compacted soils are widely used in dams, embankments and road infrastructure. Compacted fine-grained soils, especially clay-containing soils, are frequently used as barriers to water and pollutant movement in landfills. Shear strength parameters of compacted high plasticity clay soils depend on many variables such as consistency limits, dry density, and degree of saturation. In this study, 20 high plasticity clay soil samples were used and geotechnical identification tests were performed on each of them. Direct shear box and unconfined compression tests were carried out to determine the shear strength parameters of the samples prepared by compression in their compaction characteristics. As a result of this study, the relationships between the geotechnical properties of soil samples and both the effective shear strength parameters and total shear stress parameters were evaluated.