STUDY OF THE DEFORMATION AND FAILURE MECHANISM IN CLAYEY SOIL

ETUDE DU MECANISME DE DEFORMATION ET DE RUPTURE DES SOLS AGRILEUX

The article outlines a physical theory of deformation and failure of clayey soil, based on the long-term study of microphenomena occurring in this type of soil due to long-term loading. The study consisted in subjecting clay samples to creep deformation and failure tests during which changes in microstructure were investigated with polarizing and electron microscopes. It was observed that deformation occurs together with the displacement, rearrangement and reorientation of the particles, and with the formation of microcracks and other faults. The development of cracks in time leads to failure which occurs when the deterioration of the soil has reached a critical value. The critical deterioration (density of faults) is taken as the failure criterion for a given soil. A relation was derived between the rate of development of the cracks, stress and time before failure occurs. Based on concepts of kinetic molecular energy and of statistical physics (Bolltzman Distribution Law), an equation is presented which describes the relation between stress and failure time of the samples. The equation of the resistance to creep facilitates the determination of the load for which the soil remains stable during a given time of application or of the forecast of the time when a possible failure (of a slope for example) may occur under a given load. The integral form of the equation enables these problems to be solved in the case of a load varying in time. Examples of solution are given. /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chausees (LCPC)

  Boulevard Lefebvre 58
  Paris Cedex 15,   France  F-75732
• Authors:
  • Vyalov, S S
  • Maksimyak, R V
• Publication Date: 1976-11-12

Language

• French

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 61-74
• Serial:
  • Bulletin de Liaison des Lab des Ponts et Chaussees
  • Issue Number: 86
  • Publisher: Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chausees (LCPC)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Chemical composition; Clay; Clay soils; Cohesive soils; Creep; Deformation; Failure; Fracture mechanics; Honeycomb structures; Mathematical analysis; Microscopes; Microstructure; Soil mechanics; Stresses; Structural analysis; Tests; Theory; Time; Torsion; Translations
• Uncontrolled Terms: Micro
• Geographic Terms: Former Soviet Union
• ITRD Terms: 4177: Clay; 4157: Cohesive soil; 4732: Creep (mater); 5595: Deformation; 5520: Failure; 9045: Micro; 6790: Microscope; 5755: Soil mechanics; 5575: Stress (in material); 5937: Structure (physicochem); 6255: Test; 9078: Theory; 5414: Time; 5512: Torsion; 8538: Translation; 8123: USSR
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00170321
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Anaytic
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 28 1978 12:00AM