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Effect of Shear on Suction in Saturated Clays
Author(s) -
Day P. R.,
Ripple C. D.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1966.03615995003000060010x
Subject(s) - shearing (physics) , thixotropy , geotechnical engineering , shear (geology) , suction , geology , bentonite , slurry , materials science , mineralogy , composite material , thermodynamics , physics
A slurry of clay and water that has remained undisturbed for several days undergoes a rapid lowering of suction when sheared. After shear has ceased the suction increases spontaneously towards the original value at an exponential rate. These effects have been observed in various clay types and in bentonite with various cation treatments. Deformation generally has a strong influence on the suction, whose changes with shear depend upon the preconsolidation or prestress history of the soil. Shearing a clay through an angle of only 2° or 3° may affect its suction markedly. The effect is similar to, and is associated with, the phenomenon of thixotropy. The present measurements furnish support for the theory that shear causes rupture or displacement of the structural bonds of clay‐water systems and, perhaps more significantly, that the structures tend to reform spontaneously.