Experimental Evaluation of Shear Strength of Kaolin Clay under Cyclic and Noncyclic Thermal Loading

Abstract

The soil response to daily temperature variation imposed by an energy pile is critical for estimating the energy pile's capacity and serviceability. It is, therefore, necessary to determine the temperature-induced effects on mechanical properties of soils. This article presents the results of an experimental study on the effects of thermal loading on shear strength of reconstituted kaolin clay. The study was performed using a triaxial testing apparatus capable of applying thermal loading. Different cyclic and noncyclic thermal loadings, with temperatures ranging between 24 ⁰C and 34 ⁰C, were applied. In addition, two theoretical mechanisms defining force distribution at the interparticle level were used to analyze the shearing behavior of clay under thermal loading. Both experimental and theoretical results indicate that the influence of temperature variation on the shear strength of clay is primarily controlled by stress state and stress history.

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Comments

Funding for this research was provided by the National Science Foundation, Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation under award No. 1335395.

Keywords and Phrases

energy pile; Kaolin; Shear strength; Temperature variations; Triaxial test

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0149-6115

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2019 ASTM International, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Nov 2019

Share

 
COinS