Modeling compression curves of reconstituted clays based on logistic function

Abstract

The logistic function is introduced for modeling the compression curves of reconstituted clays over a wide stress range beginning from the initial void ratio. Three parameters in the model can be determined by the least square method based on the measurements. It is found that the compression curves of reconstituted clays can be interpreted very well by the proposed model. The error in the void ratio between the calculations and the measurements varies within a narrow range of ±3%, based on the databases available from our research team and the independent researchers. The proposed model possesses the merit of continuity and derivability without singularity, compared with the conventional piecewise linear method of interpreting the compression behavior. In this study, a simply empirical way is also suggested for determining the compression curves of reconstituted clays in the case without performing consolidation tests. The three parameters in the model are correlated with two physical indices: the void ratio and the void ratio at the liquid limit.