Cross-anisotropic elastic parameters of two natural stiff clays

Abstract

An experimental study of the cross-anisotropic elastic parameters was performed on two heavily overconsolidated clays: London Clay and Gault Clay. The study utilised a special triaxial testing apparatus that incorporates local strain measuring system and elastic wave velocity measurement system. Isotropically consolidated drained compression tests and shear wave velocity measurements were undertaken on both vertically and horizontally cut specimens. The experiments were performed under in situ isotropic stresses to study the inherent anisotropic characteristics of the clays in terms of the elastic stiffness. The deformation characteristics during triaxial compression were carefully investigated to obtain various elastic moduli and Poisson ratios.