NEW ASPECTS OF SOIL FRACTURING IN CLAY - CLOSURE

This paper is a closure by the original author in response to discussions of his original paper. The discussers address the method suggested to estimate stress conditions at which soil fracturing can occcur during expansion of a cylindrical cavity in clay soils, and they suggest a simplified method to estimate the final effective stress taking into account the fact that the clay is partially remolded in the plastic zone. By virtue of this approach results from finite analysis presented elsewhere by the discussers, it is said to be unlikely that fracturing will occur in soft clays; although, the discussers also point out that radial cracks can form around driven piles owning to circumferential strains. In this paper, the author attempts to show evidence to refute the discussers' premise. The discussers also assert that finite element analysis based on critical-state concepts does not predict soil fracturing during cavity expansion in clay; although, fracturing has been observed in several cases. The writer feels that the approach he proposed appears to be in agreement with observed soil fracturing; therefore, he concludes that, for practical purposes, his method can be used to predict soil fracturing in soft clay.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/3519342
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Mussarsch, K R
• Publication Date: 1980-6

Media Info

• Features: Tables;
• Pagination: p. 715-716
• Serial:
  • Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
  • Volume: 106
  • Issue Number: GT6
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 1090-0241
  • Serial URL: http://ojps.aip.org/gto

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Clay soils; Expansion; Finite element method; Forecasting; Fracture mechanics; Soft clays; Strain (Mechanics)
• Old TRIS Terms: Strains
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00315418
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: ASCE 13961
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 19 1981 12:00AM