Abstract

The paper discusses the geological history, intrinsic properties, structural features and mechanical behaviour of three differently fissured clays outcropping within the Apennine chain in southern Italy. Based on a large experimental database, the mechanical behaviour of the clays is investigated in the light of their different fissuring features, which have been distinguished and characterised by means of a new chart. The study assumed the soil to be a continuum, despite the different fissuring features of the clay fabric. Therefore laboratory tests were carried out on both natural and reconstituted clay samples, and the results were compared with those recognised in the literature to be typical of unfissured sensitive clays. Based on these comparisons, a behavioural framework is proposed for clays possessing certain fissure structures. The results of the analysis show that the mini- to mesostructure of clays of fissuring intensity 15-16 can be modelled as part of the structure variable controlling the clay behaviour. Where the structure variable refers solely to the micro scale for unfissured homogeneous clays, for fissured clays 15-16 it spans from the micro to the meso scale. As for the microstructure of unfissured clays, this micro- to mesostructure influences the soil response as an internal state variable in addition to specific volume in controlling the mechanical response. In particular, it appears that for clays of fissuring intensity 15-16, structure is detrimental to strength, so that the material is even weaker than the reconstituted clay.

Autore Pugliese

• Cotecchia Federica , Vitone Claudia

Tutti gli autori

• Vitone Claudia , Cotecchia Federica

Titolo volume/Rivista

GEOTECHNIQUE

Anno di pubblicazione

2011

ISSN

0016-8505

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Scopus

24

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

2017-04-22 03:20:59

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile