Temperature Effects on Residual Shear Strength of Soil: Fid-Bau Portal

Temperature Effects on Residual Shear Strength of Soil

Ung, Aidy / Zeinali, Seyed Morteza / Abdelaziz, Sherif L.

This study aims to assess temperature effects on the residual shear strength of soft clays. Seasonal variation in temperature changes the engineering properties of soils. Temperature fluctuation seasonally induces the destabilization of the ground near the surface and causes geotechnical hazards such as thermally induced landslides. Therefore, in this study, a modified temperature-controlled ring shear apparatus is used to change the temperature of clays and evaluate the effect of the temperature on the residual shear strength. For this purpose, two clays with two different mineralogies are selected and then residual shear strengths are measured at room temperature (i.e., 20°C), 10°C, as well as at elevated temperatures of 30°C and 40°C. The results for each of the considered clays at different temperatures are compared to assess the temperature effects on the residual shear strength of soils. The results show a negligible impact of temperature on the residual shear strength of Illite and Montmorillonite clay mixture (Rhassoul clay). However, the residual shear strength of Kaolinite clay increases with either heating or cooling. Although more investigation is required, the evolution of residual shear strength with temperature is potentially dependent on the clay mineralogy.