The effects of cyclic loading on the reconsolidation behaviours of marine sedimentary clays under intermittent drainage conditions

Abstract

The reconsolidation settlement of marine sedimentary clay subgrade subjected to cyclic dynamic loading under intermittent drainage conditions needs to be further studied. In this study, a series of triaxial tests was conducted on natural Wenzhou soft clays to investigate the reconsolidation responses induced by staged cyclic loading under intermittent drainage conditions. The dynamic behaviours of the test specimens, such as the evolution of excess pore water pressure, variations in stress-strain hysteresis loops and resilient modulus, and cumulative strain development, are analysed and discussed. The experimental results show that during the intermittent quiescent drainage period, the dissipation of the excess pore pressure generated during the cyclic loading period results in reconsolidation of the test specimen. Hardening occurs throughout the tests, as determined by observing the variations in the hysteresis loops and resilient modulus. Throughout the tests, a higher percentage of the axial plastic strain in the quiescent period to the total axial plastic strain indicates that the reconsolidation deformation of the soft clay subgrade caused by intermittent drainage cannot be ignored. These conclusions have significant value for performing in-depth research on the dynamic behaviours of marine sedimentary clays subjected to cyclic traffic loading and predicting the settlement of roads in engineering practice.