Mechanical response of a cemented soil over a wide range of porosities and cement contents

Abstract

The adjusted porosity/cement index η/(Civ)a has proved its effectiveness in modelling the strength and stiffness of a variety of artificially cemented soils. In this regard, by establishing a specific η/(Civ)a value, either by increasing the cement content and decreasing the density (or the opposite), a similar mechanical response is expected. Nonetheless, the role of this sort of dosage changing has not yet been verified for triaxial testing and, particularly, the effect of different dosages assembled at the same η/(Civ)a value has not yet been evaluated considering the effective peak stress parameters. As a reason, present research fulfills this gap by conducting a series of CID triaxial tests on a cemented clayey sand and, as well, small strain stiffness tests and the unconfined compressive strength tests. The last two being part of a preliminary assessment which comprehended the study of, at least, three dosages assembled at five different η/(Civ)a values. The test data have revealed that both the stiffness and the strength outcomes could be properly correlated to the η/(Civ)a, regardless of the dosage type. Yet, the effective peak stress parameters (ϕ′peak and c′peak) could not be related to the η/(Civ)a index owing to the dosage-dependence of the strength mobilization mechanisms.