On influencing factors of quick consolidated-drained triaxial tests of widely-graded gravelly soils

Authors

Zhi-bo CHEN, Fujian Provincial Universities Engineering Research Center of Geological Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, China
Cong-ming HUANG, Fujian Provincial Universities Engineering Research Center of Geological Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350116, China
Jun-gao ZHU, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Geomechanics and Embankment Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210098, China
Jun-jie WANG, Diagnostic Technology on Health of Hydraulic Structures Engineering Research Center of Chongqing Education Commission of China, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China

Abstract

Widely-graded gravelly soil is composed of gravelly and clayey material in a certain proportion. It has the characteristics of low compressibility and high shear strength. At present, it is widely used as the core material for embankment dams and subgrade filling. Due to the low permeability of well-graded gravelly soil, the consolidation process is slow in conventional consolidated- drained (CD) triaxial tests, resulting in a long test period. In order to improve the efficiency of consolidation process, a quick triaxial CD test method with cylindrical sand core in the center of specimen is proposed in this paper. A comprehensive study on the influence of various factors on the quick triaxial CD test of well-graded gravelly soils is performed by changing types of sand cores, diameters of core sand cylinder and gravel contents. Results show that the proposed quick triaxial CD test method can effectively accelerate the consolidation process of the specimen, thus speeding up the whole test. Various factors including type of sand core, diameter of core sand cylinderand gravel content show different levels of influence on the speed of consolidation process and the stress-strain curve in the subsequent shearing stage. The smaller the diameter of the sand core is, the closer the test results are to those of specimens without sand cores.

Graphic Abstract

Recommended Citation

CHEN, Zhi-bo; HUANG, Cong-ming; ZHU, Jun-gao; and WANG, Jun-jie (2021) "On influencing factors of quick consolidated-drained triaxial tests of widely-graded gravelly soils," Rock and Soil Mechanics: Vol. 42: Iss. 1, Article 5.
DOI: 10.16285/j.rsm.2020.5556
Available at: https://rocksoilmech.researchcommons.org/journal/vol42/iss1/5