Strength of Anisotropically Consolidated Compacted Clay

Abstract

A series of comparative anisotropically and isotropically consolidated triaxial compression tests were performed on saturated undrained specimens of compacted Kaolinite and a compacted silty clay using consolidation pressures ranging from 15 psi to a maximum of 2,000 psi. Considerable differences were observed in the nonfailure stress strain and pore pressure response of the samples consolidated to different anisotropic stress conditions. However, unique relations were observed for the effective stress Mohr envelopes, the water content versus the major principal consolidation stress, and the undrained peak strength versus water content at failure. These relations were different for the different soils, but for each soil they were independent of the principal stress ratio during consolidation, and of the initial compaction water content.