Most commercial laboratories carry out routine isotropically-consolidated triaxial tests, i. e. specimen is consolidated isotropically and then subjected to undrained compression by increasing axial pressure, lateral pressure being kept constant during compression process. However, in-situ natural clay deposits exist under anisotropic states of stress, corresponding to K
0-consolidation with no lateral strain. The anisotropic consolidation phase of triaxial tests is generally time consuming and expensive, especially if K
0 conditions are maintained.
This paper describes the effects of different stress paths during anisotropic consolidation to the completion of K
0-cosolidation on undrained shear characteristics of anisotropically consolidated cohesive soil. The comparison of triaxial tests obtained from three different paths during consolidation shows no significant difference in undrained shear behaviour evaluation. The present testing procedures require no special cell, and its simplicity, speed and economy are well suited to evaluate the undrained shear behaviour after K
0-consolidation. Therefore, it can be readily used by practicing engineers.
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