ANISOTROPIC CONSOLIDATION OF LEDA CLAY
Under field loading conditions, the consolidation of a clay layer is likely to take place under effective principal stress ratios (σ1′/σ3′), which vary from point to point throughout the soil mass. From a consideration of idealized stress paths, an estimate is made of the effect of stress ratio on rates of volumetric strain and excess pore water pressure dissipation. These predictions are partly supported by data obtained from anisotropic consolidation tests on Leda clay, the major disagreements being due to the significant influence of structural cementation on the rate process.The experimentally observed rates of shear strain have been analyzed in terms of stress-dilatancy concepts. The plastic strain-increment ratio was shown to be a unique function of effective stress ratio, thus confirming the validity of previous work on remoulded clays. A theoretical prediction of this relationship postulated by Burland (1965) did not approximate to the experimental data, due probably to the influence of secondary deformations. The data did, however, show a relationship similar in form to that derived by Walker (1969) for the secondary deformation of remoulded kaolin.