ISSN: 1945-7545
CODEN: GTJODJ
Published Online: 4 May 2005
Page Count: 6

Absorbed Energy and Compacted Cohesive Soil Performance

Zhang, Z
Senior Research Engineer, Louisiana Transportation Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA

Tao, M
Postdoctoral Researcher, Louisiana Transportation Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA

Tumay, MT
Georgia Gulf Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

(Received 29 January 2004; accepted 10 January 2005)

Abstract

This technical note proposes a new concept of absorbed energy that is related to the soil structural formation for unsaturated cohesive soils. Results from limited preliminary laboratory tests indicate that such energy correlates reasonably well with unconfined compressive strength of soils, and it can be predicted by moisture content and dry unit weight of soils. The relationship between energy and engineering properties of soils can provide a basis to correlate different geotechnical engineering behaviors that have customarily been individually studied. Consequently, a new approach to interpret some traditional processes in geotechnical engineering, such as fill compaction and strength deterioration due to seasonal variation of moisture content, is suggested from the perspective of energy concept.

Keywords:
dry unit weight, energy, moisture content, strength deterioration, unconfined compressive strength

Paper ID: GTJ12539
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ12539
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