Viscous behaviour of St-Roch-de-l'Achigan clay, Quebec

2004 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Esther Soares Marques ◽  
Serge Leroueil ◽  
Márcio de Souza Soares de Almeida

This paper describes the viscous behaviour of St-Roch-de-l'Achigan clay, a Champlain Sea clay from Quebec, Canada. The general geotechnical profile of the soil deposit was first established with static cone penetration tests, vane tests, and some laboratory tests performed at different depths. For the study of the viscous behaviour of the clay, a special laboratory test program was established for specimens taken at depths from 4.8 to 5.8 m. This program included special incremental loading oedometer tests, constant rate of strain (CRS) oedometer tests performed at different strain rates, isotropic and anisotropic triaxial compression tests, and undrained shear tests. All these tests were performed under a constant temperature, varying from 10 to 50 °C. The test results show that the vertical yield stresses and the entire limit state curve depend on strain rate and temperature. The critical state line is also temperature dependent in the void ratio (e) – log principal effective stress (p′) diagram but not in the deviator stress (q) – principal effective stress (p′) diagram. The results also show that microstructuring may develop when the temperature is high or the strain rate small.Key words: viscosity, strain rate, temperature, laboratory tests.

2020 ◽  
Vol 205 ◽  
pp. 04005
Author(s):  
Philip J. Vardon ◽  
Joek Peuchen

A method of utilizing cone penetration tests (CPTs) is presented which gives continuous profiles of both the in situ thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity, along with the in situ temperature, for the upper tens of meters of the ground. Correlations from standard CPT results (cone resistance, sleeve friction and pore pressure) are utilized for both thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity for saturated soil. These, in conjunction with point-wise thermal conductivity and in situ temperature results using a Thermal CPT (T-CPT), allow accurate continuous profiles to be derived. The CPT-based method is shown via a field investigation supported by laboratory tests to give accurate and robust results.


2008 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriano Virgilio Damiani Bica ◽  
Luiz Antônio Bressani ◽  
Diego Vendramin ◽  
Flávia Burmeister Martins ◽  
Pedro Miguel Vaz Ferreira ◽  
...  

This paper discusses results of laboratory tests carried out with a residual soil originated from the weathering of eolian sandstone from southern Brazil. Parent rock features, like microfabric and particle bonding, are remarkably well preserved within this residual soil. Stiffness and shear strength properties were evaluated with consolidated drained (CID) and consolidated undrained (CIU) triaxial compression tests. Undisturbed specimens were tested with two different orientations between the specimen axis and bedding surfaces (i.e., parallel (δ = 0°) or perpendicular (δ = 90°)) to investigate the effect of anisotropy. When CID triaxial tests were performed with δ = 0°, the yield surface associated with the structure was much larger than when tests were performed with δ = 90°. Coincidently, CIU tests with δ = 0° showed peak shear strengths much greater than for δ = 90° at comparable test conditions. Once the peak shear strength was surpassed, CIU tests followed collapse-type effective stress paths not shown by corresponding tests with remolded specimens. A near coincidence was observed between the yield surface determined with CID tests and the envelope of collapse-type effective stress paths for δ = 0° and δ = 90°.


Author(s):  
Yufeng Zhao ◽  
Heinz Konietzky ◽  
Martin Herbst

AbstractAlong with the advance of the working face, coal experiences different loading stages. Laboratory tests and numerical simulations of fracture and damage evolution aim to better understand the structural stability of coal layers. Three-dimensional lab tests are performed and coal samples are reconstructed using X-ray computer tomography (CT) technique to get detailed information about damage and deformation state. Three-dimensional discrete element method (DEM)-based numerical models are generated. All models are calibrated against the results obtained from uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) tests and triaxial compression (TRX) tests performed in the laboratory. A new approach to simulate triaxial compression tests is established in this work with significant improved handling of the confinement to get realistic simulation results. Triaxial tests are simulated in 3D with the particle-based code PFC3D using a newly developed flexible wall (FW) approach. This new numerical simulation approach is validated by comparison with laboratory tests on coal samples. This approach involves an updating of the applied force on each wall element based on the flexible nature of a rubber sleeve. With the new FW approach, the influence of the composition (matrix and inclusions) of the samples on the peak strength is verified. Force chain development and crack distributions are also affected by the spatial distribution of inclusions inside the sample. Fractures propagate through the samples easily at low confining pressures. On the contrary, at high confining pressure, only a few main fractures are generated with orientation towards the side surfaces. The evolution of the internal fracture network is investigated. The development of microcracks is quantified by considering loading, confinement, and structural character of the rock samples. The majority of fractures are initiated at the boundary between matrix and inclusions, and propagate along their boundaries. The internal structure, especially the distribution of inclusions has significant influence on strength, deformation, and damage pattern.


2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 695-709 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Rainer Massarsch ◽  
Bengt H Fellenius

The variation of the coefficient of earth pressure in normally consolidated and overconsolidated soil and the effect of soil compaction on the change of the horizontal effective stress are discussed based on cone penetration test (CPT) data. A method is outlined for estimating the increase in the effective earth pressure based on sleeve friction measurements. Soil compaction increases not only soil density, but also horizontal effective stress. Since the cone stress is influenced by the vertical and horizontal effective stress, particularly at shallow depths, the cone stress needs to be adjusted for effective mean stress. A relation is presented for determining the soil compressibility from the adjusted cone stress. A case history is presented where a 10 m thick sand fill was compacted using vibratory compaction. Cone penetration tests indicated a significant increase in cone stress and sleeve friction and a decrease in compressibility (increase in modulus number) due to compaction. The friction ratio was unchanged. It was concluded that the earth pressure about doubled corresponding to an increase in the overconsolidation ratio of at least 5. The results of settlement calculations based on the Janbu method demonstrate the importance of considering the preconsolidation effect in the analyses.Key words: sand, CPTU, vibratory compaction, earth pressure, overconsolidation, modulus number, settlement.


2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (10) ◽  
pp. 1395-1405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Zhan Chen ◽  
Wan-Huan Zhou ◽  
Fuming Liu ◽  
Shuping Yi

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) is a well-known efficient nanomaterial for the immobilization of heavy metals and has been widely applied in the remediation of contaminated groundwater and soils. In this study, a series of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analyses, vane shear tests, triaxial compression tests, and oedometer tests was conducted on lead-contaminated clay using four dosages of nZVI treatment (0.2%, 1%, 5%, and 10%). The geotechnical properties, including basic index properties, stiffness, shear strength, and compressibility, were assessed after the reaction procedure. FESEM analysis was performed to explore the potential mechanisms of nZVI treatment in terms of morphological characteristics. It was found that the plasticity index decreased gradually with increasing nZVI dosage. Treating contaminated soil with nZVI caused an increase in the vane shear strength, stiffness, and friction angle. The compression index increased gradually because of the nZVI treatment. Based on the FESEM analysis, a conclusion can be deduced that larger aggregates and conjoined structures resulting from nZVI treatment can lead to the strengthening of lead-contaminated clay.


2019 ◽  
Vol 92 ◽  
pp. 04001
Author(s):  
Satoshi Nishimura ◽  
Shota Okajima ◽  
Jinyuan Wang ◽  
Bhakta Raj Joshi

The small-strain deformation behaviour of frozen high-plasticity clay, and the factors influencing it were investigated through parallel tests at frozen and unfrozen states. The first and second series involved temperature-controlled triaxial compression tests on unfrozen and frozen samples, respectively, with accurate strain measurement with local displacement sensors, fully calibrated for cold environment. The small-strain loading was conducted at different axial strain rates and temperatures. At pre-yield small strains in order of 0.001%, Young's modulus was independent of the strain rate, in a same manner as in unfrozen soils. The strain rate only affected the onset of small-scale yielding and the degradation of stiffness after that. The elastic strain range was greater at lower temperature, but the degree of stress-strain non-linearity seen at small strains remained on the whole similar between frozen and unfrozen states. An interesting feature of the frozen clay's stiffness, also confirmed by third test series adopting bender elements, is that it decreases when the soil is frozen from higher effective stress. A simple model was proposed to explain this feature.


2011 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
pp. 169-175
Author(s):  
Jun Tong Qu ◽  
Zhi Hong Ran ◽  
Sheng Miao

The charge weight, charge placement (in profile) and depth of charges are important factors in design of Explosive Compaction for saturated loose sand. Six laboratory tests have been conducted to investigate the potential of charge weight, charge placement (in profile) and depth of charge in blast densification, Concentrated Charge has adopted in two of them, the others are Decked or Tiered Charges. Variation of cone penetration tests and ground profile changes were measured. The results of laboratory tests prove the decked and tiered charges are more effective for ground treatment in explosive compaction, more specifically, the more uniform distribution of energy input, the more effective for ground treatment. However, the effective limits of these relationships have not been well defined in qualitative guidance.


2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 892-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
A B Fourie ◽  
L Tshabalala

The potential for static liquefaction of hydraulically placed sands and silts is now well recognised. A particular category of this type of operation, tailings disposal facilities constructed using the upstream method, has come under increased scrutiny due to the large number of failures of these structures. Although the conditions that render a particular deposit susceptible to potential liquefaction are now well known, being a combination of void ratio and mean effective stress that places the material state above its steady state value, the same cannot be said about our ability to predict the stresses at which liquefaction will be initiated. The concept of a collapse surface, derived from the locus of peak shear stress values from undrained compression tests on isotropically consolidated specimens, attempts to provide a method for predicting the onset of liquefaction. As confirmed in this paper, however, application of the collapse surface concept to actual tailings dam facilities results in factors of safety based on an effective stress approach that are significantly less than unity for facilities that have not failed. On the other hand, shear strength values derived from ultimate state conditions are unconservative, predicting factors of safety significantly in excess of unity for facilities that have failed. A comparison of monotonic undrained triaxial compression tests on both isotropically- and K0-consolidated specimens of gold tailings suggests that the resolution to this dilemma lies in the recognition that a kinematic yield surface, which is a function of the consolidation stress path followed, develops in stress space. The collapse surface derived from undrained loading of K0-consolidated loose specimens is shown to provide a greatly improved capacity for predicting the onset of liquefaction under undrained loading conditions.Key words: static liquefaction, tailings, collapse surface, anisotropic.


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