Long-Term Strength of Compacted High-PI Clays

Details

• Creators:
  Aubeny, Charles P. ; Lytton, Robert
• Corporate Creators:
  Texas Transportation Institute. Texas A&M University
• Corporate Contributors:
  Texas Department of Transportation. Research and Technology Implementation Office ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Atmospheric Diffusion Clay Soils Cracking Earth Failure Moisture Content Moisture Damage Plasticity Index Slopes Soil Stabilization Structures Unsaturated Soils

  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHW NTX -03/2100-1
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Texas ; United States
• Edition:
  September 2000 - December 2002
• Corporate Publisher:
  Texas Transportation Institute. Texas A&M University
• Abstract:
  Moisture infiltration into earth slopes and structures constructed of high-plasticity clays will lead to a reduction in soil suction and strength that can ultimately result in stability failure. This research presents a rational analysis of this process that: establishes a relationship between soil suction and strength, and provides a framework for predicting the time rate of strength loss due to moisture infiltration into an earth mass. This research utilizes a generalized form of the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion to characterize the effects of suction on soil strength. A diffusion equation governs changes in soil moisture and suction. This equation is in general non-linear for unsaturated soils; however, this research uses a linearized formulation through appropriate transformation of variables. This research also presents methods for estimating the necessary material parameters needed for input into the moisture diffusion model. The suction-strength relationships and moisture diffusion analyses are applied to back-analyzing a number of shallow slope failures in Texas high-PI (plasticity index) clays. The moisture diffusion analysis is also extended to typical Texas Department of Transportation earth- retaining structures to predict decreases in suction during the life of these structures. Based on these suction predictions, estimates of soil strength within an earth structure as a function of location and time are possible.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  0-2100
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e47bd76f8134c19bbc44c7a4b97e1a520be5ac880bec696a26e663c2a79ecd5675d09333e3640b8905f9164a3b8bd37b9d3a5745a7f2a422200fdd2a013a926b
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/86221/dot_86221_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.17 MB ]