The Effect of the Moisture Content on the Strength of an Alluvial Clay

Abstract

In order to research the effect of the moisture content in connection with strength characteristics of undisturbed saturated clay, a large number of tests such as U-test, vane test and triaxial compression test, have been performed. As the result, it is shown that the compressive strength of saturated clay has a linear relationship to the moisture content on the semi-logarithmic paper, and that the above linear plotting is parallel to the virgin compression line of the consolidation test. Applying the concept of soil water bond introduced in the stretched membrane theory, to the unconfined compressive strength of clay under the air-drying process, it is found that the strength of clay can be determined uniquely from the moisture content, independent of the types or kinds of testing method. And some investigations have been also tried with respect to the effect of the lateral drainage in the triaxial consolidation test.