ISSN: 1945-7545
CODEN: GTJODJ
Page Count: 14

Properties of Some Kaolin-Based Model Clay Soils

Rossato, G
Research student, University of Padua, Padua,

Ninis, NL
Research student and senior lecturer, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London,

Jardine, RJ
Research student and senior lecturer, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London,

Abstract

Kaolin has been widely used both in fundamental studies of soil behavior and in physical model tests. However, the properties of pure kaolin are somewhat atypical of natural clay soils. In the first part of this paper we compare the mechanical properties of sedimented kaolin to median trends established from tests on natural clays and argue that artificial soils incorporating a substantial granular fraction reflect more closely the behavior of “destructured” real clays. In the second part we report a laboratory investigation of one particular mixture and describe the stress-strain behavior and strength properties observed in a series of K₀ consolidated triaxial tests in which local strain instrumentation was used to better define the stiffness characteristics at small strains.

Keywords:
clays, model soils, triaxial tests, geotechnical materials, soil structure, undrained stiffness

Paper ID: GTJ10238J
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ10238J
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