Journal Published Online: 07 December 2006
Volume 30, Issue 4

Experimental Study on Fracture Behavior of a Silty Clay

CODEN: GTJODJ

Abstract

Fracture toughness KIC and KIIC are two important parameters in fracture mechanics. In this paper, a device was designed to perform improved three-point and four-point unsymmetrical bending tests on soil beams. The device can easily remove the influence of specimen self-weight on the test results. Using the improved methods and the device, KIC, KIIC, and mixed mode I-II stress intensity factors KI and KII at fracture failure of a compacted silty clay were investigated. Test results indicated that the fracture of the silty clay exhibits linear and elastic behavior. The influences of dry density, water content, and preconsolidation pressure of specimens on parameter KIC were investigated. It was found that the classical mixed mode I-II fracture failure theories such as the strain energy density factor theory, maximum circumferential stress theory, and energy release rate theory cannot adequately predict the fracture failure behavior of the specimens, but a circle agrees well with the test results. The directions of crack growing in the specimens under mode II and mixed mode I-II loading conditions were expressed by a linear function of KI/KII.

Author Information

Wang, Jun-Jie
College of River & Ocean Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Nan’an District, Chongqing, P. R. China
Zhu, Jun-Gao
Research Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, P. R. China.
Chiu, C.
Research Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, P. R. China.
Chai, He-Jun
Research & Design Institute of Chongqing Communication, Nan’an District, Chongqing, P. R. China
Pages: 9
Price: $25.00
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Details
Stock #: GTJ100715
ISSN: 0149-6115
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ100715