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Strain localization in clay: plane strain versus triaxial loading conditions

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Abstract

The paper presents a comparison between the behavior of slurry-consolidated Kaolin specimens tested under axisymmetric Conventional Triaxial Compression (CTC) and Plane Strain (PS) loading conditions. The PS experiments were conducted on an instrumented apparatus capable of capturing the onset of shear bands. The specimens were consolidated and then sheared under undrained condition. The PS specimens failed via a well-defined shear band that began to develop during the hardening stress regime whereas CTC specimens failed through a diffuse bulging mode. The undrained shear strength (S u) of CTC experiments is smaller than the S u of PS experiments. However, the normalized S u of CTC experiments is very close to PS1, which was consolidated under similar K o condition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University and Southern University, 3505C CEBA Building, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Khalid A. Alshibli

  2. CDM, 5400 Glenwood Ave. Suite 300, Raleigh, NC, 27612, USA

    Ibrahim Sacit Akbas

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  1. Khalid A. Alshibli
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  2. Ibrahim Sacit Akbas
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Correspondence to Khalid A. Alshibli.

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Alshibli, K.A., Akbas, I.S. Strain localization in clay: plane strain versus triaxial loading conditions. Geotech Geol Eng 25, 45–55 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-006-0005-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-006-0005-4

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