Strength and Stress-Strain Behavior of Atchafalaya Levee Foundation Soils: Fid-Bau Portal

Strength and Stress-Strain Behavior of Atchafalaya Levee Foundation Soils

J. M. Duncan

This investigation sought to relate the properties of the Atchafalaya levee foundation soils measured in triaxial tests to those measured in plane strain and simple shear tests, and to study the effects of anisotropy and load duration on the strength and stress-strain behavior of these soils. The strength and stress-strain characteristics determined in unconsolidated-undrained (Q) triaxial and plane strain tests were found to be essentially identical. The behavior of these soils in unconsolidated-undrained simple shear tests was found to be consistent with the results of triaxial and plane strain tests provided that proper account was taken of the initial stresses within the specimens and the anisotropic strength characteristics of the clay. The undrained strength of the clay was found to vary depending on the orientation of the test specimens. Horizontal specimens were strongest, and those trimmed so that failure occurred on a horizontal plane were weakest. Although no creep strength loss was observed in the creep tests conducted, it was found that test specimens deformed continually under sustained load.