The mechanical characteristics of artificially cemented gravel–silty clay mixed soils

Abstract

Triaxial tests were performed on artificially cemented gravel–silty clay mixed soils and remoulded samples under consolidated drained conditions. The aim was to investigate the effects of the content of silty clay and confining pressure on the stress–strain, volumetric strain and other mechanical characteristics of the cemented and remoulded samples. The test samples were prepared with different fines contents and effective confining pressures. The results showed that both the confining pressure and the fines content had a great effect on the mechanical properties of the cemented and remoulded samples. During triaxial shearing, the cemented samples underwent dilation and strain-softening, accompanied by the appearance of shear bands at a confining pressure lower than 100 kPa and fines content less than 30%. Otherwise, the cemented samples showed strain-hardening and contraction, accompanied by bulging failure. All the remoulded samples showed strain-hardening and contraction, accompanied by bulging failure during triaxial shearing. The shear strength decreased with increasing fines content and the influence of the fines content increased with an increase in confining pressure. It was also found that, the higher the fines content, the lower the cohesion and friction angle of the cemented and remoulded samples.