EFFECT OF INITIAL STRUCTURE ON THE RESIDUAL STRENGTH OF KAOLINITIC CLAY

Abstract

The effect of initial structure on the residual shear strength of a saturated kaolinite clay is studied by using reversal-shear box technique. An attempt has been made to study the variation of structure with deformation by employing Direct Current conductivity (σ_s) dispersion characteristics. Residual strength is found to be practically independent of the initial structure for a given effective normal pressure (σ') and so also the shrinkage ratio. The conductivity reduced with increase in deformation and constancy attained when the total deformation reached the residual state. There is no significant variation in the strength ratio (tan φ'/tan φ'_r) and the conductivity ratio (σ_s initial/σ_s at residual) for a given initial structure.