Post-cyclic undrained shear behavior of soft marine clay under anisotropic consolidation stress paths

Abstract

In offshore engineering, the soft marine clay beneath an embankment may be subjected to anisotropic consolidation stress paths, which greatly affect its monotonic and post-cyclic shear behavior. In this study, the post-cyclic undrained shear behavior of anisotropically consolidated soft marine clay was investigated by conducting a series of monotonic and post-cyclic shear triaxial tests. First, the post-cyclic undrained shear behaviors, including the stress–strain, pore water pressure, and effective stress paths, were investigated by comparing the results of the monotonic tests. Then, the degradation of the post-cyclic undrained shear strength was analyzed. Finally, an empirical prediction model of the post-cyclic anisotropy strength was proposed based on the definition of equivalent overconsolidation.