Variable moduli of soil strain

Abstract

The experimental diagrams between stress and strain components for soft soils are non-linear. Nonlinear diagrams qualitatively differ for soils of undisturbed and disturbed structures. It is believed that the manifestations of nonlinear properties of soil are associated with micro-destruction of soil structure under compression and, therefore, with changes in its mechanical characteristics under strain. It follows that the modulus of elasticity, Poisson’s ratio, viscosity and other mechanical parameters are the variables in the process of soil strain. Based on this, from the experimental results given in scientific literature, the changes in the modulus of elasticity and plasticity of soil are determined depending on the values of compression strain. In the process of static and dynamic compression of soil it is almost impossible to determine the boundaries of elastic and plastic strains in soft soil. So, the modulus under soil compression is called the strain modulus. From published results of experiments on dynamic and static compression of soil the most informative ones have been selected. Processing the selected compression diagrams of soft soil, the secant moduli of strain for loess soil and clay have been determined. It is established that the moduli of strain of clay and loess soil under static and dynamic strain vary depending on the rate of strain, the state of the structure and the level of compressive load.