ISSN: 0149-6115
Page Count: 8

Shear and Interface Strength of Clay at Very Low Effective Stress

Pedersen, RC
Graduate research assistant,The University of Texas at Austin,TX,

Olson, RE
L. P. Gilvin Professor,The University of Texas at Austin,TX,

Rauch, AF
Assistant professor,The University of Texas at Austin,Texas,

(Received 17 July 2001; accepted 5 April 2002)

Abstract

Thin-specimen direct shear (TSDS) tests were conducted to measure the shearing strength of kaolinite, and interface strengths between kaolinite and acrylic plastic and anodized aluminum, at normal effective stresses from 1 to 2400 Pa (0.02 to 50 lb/ft²). At the lowest effective normal stresses, curved strength envelopes fitted through the data exhibited no cohesion and high secant friction angles. Accurate information on the behavior of soil in this low-pressure range is needed to properly interpret the behavior of prototype foundations in laboratory-scale model tests.

Keywords:
shear strength, low stress, interface friction, direct shear, tilt-table

Paper ID: GTJ11104J
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ11104J
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