Interpretation of Micromechanical Behavior of Reconstituted Kaolin Soils under 1-D Consolidation

Abstract

Analysis of microstructural behavior of soils is crucial for understanding the underlying mechanisms of macro behavior. This is because the soil constitutive behavior that is observed at the macro scale is controlled by microstructural changes. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the changes in soil fabric during the consolidation process. For this purpose, one-dimensional consolidation tests were conducted during which micrographs were taken at different consolidation stages and load increments. In order to reveal the influence of time and strain-rate on one dimensional consolidation behavior of clays, attention is mainly given to the change of fabric with time at a specific loading increment. The results imply the presence of a continuous interaction mechanism both among the solids and also between the solids and pore water, while soil fabric arranges itself to absorb the energy induced by applied loads.