Abstract
This paper represents a series of tests performed to evaluate the static undrained shear degradation of saturated clays after cyclic loading. Both remolded and undisturbed clays were used for this purpose, and the samples are selected to cover both normally and over-consolidated states. First, the stress-strain-pore pressure behavior of these types of clays was presented and compared with that without a cyclic loading effect. Secondly, particular attention has been paid to the equivalent over-consolidation phenomenon observed for the normally consolidated specimens, in their subsequent response to undrained shearing, and the equivalent over-consolidation hypothesis was established. Thirdly, based on the experimental results and the equivalent over-consolidation hypothesis, the shear characteristics degradation relationships were constructed for both remolded and undisturbed normally consolidated clays. Finally, a method for predicting the stress-strain behavior after cyclic loading of random amplitudes was proposed and reliable results were observed.
