The sensitivity of Prazeres clay – some results on reconstituted samples

Abstract

Soil’s structure is defined as the issue responsible for the differences observed in the mechanical response of natural soil samples compared to the intrinsic behaviour of reconstituted samples. The parameter that incorporates the differences in microstructure of intact and reconstituted clays is designated by stress sensitivity. The influence of microstructure and fabric on the behaviour of soils has been evaluated by comparing strength and compressibility characteristics of intact and reconstituted samples of the same material. Included on a broad characterization study of Lisbon Miocene Prazeres clay held at Porto University, some oedometer and triaxial tests were undertaken on intact and reconstituted samples. In this paper, the process of preparing reconstituted samples and consolidating them in a large oedometer to the in-situ stress is thoroughly described. The results of oedometer and triaxial tests on reconstituted samples are presented and compared with results for intact samples from the same site. A proposal for parameterisation of the intrinsic characteristics of this clay is established on the basis of test results. Concerning compressibility, oedometer test results show good adjustment to the isotropic compression line (ICL). Triaxial test results for intact samples in the light of critical states soil mechanics are similar to those obtained in s’-t space for the reconstituted samples. The intrinsic parameters show good agreement with those described in the literature for soils of the same nature.