Strength and deformation characteristics of clays with different pHs

In order to the clarify influence of a physico-chemical index, pH on the strength and deformation characteristics of clay, standard consolidation and triaxial compression tests were performed on clay samples of which pH values were artificially changed by adding sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide solution. It was shown that the consolidation indexes of clay were dependent on the pH value and the mineral composition. Furthermore, the undrained shear behaviors of clay notably changed by the pH value. Although the effective stress passes were affected by the pH value of clay specimen before undrained shearing, they reached a same critical state line.

pH

clay

strength and deformation characteristics

soil structure

standard consolidation test

triaxial compression test

stress pass

critical state line