Undrained shear strength profile of normally and overconsolidated kaolin clay

Abstract

The profile of the undrained shear strength of kaolin clay samples has been determined using an automated shear vane device. The automated device can monitor and register the changes in the mobilised shear resistance as a function of shear strain, while merely peak undrained shear strengths of the sample can be determined using conventional vane shear tests. The clay samples were prepared using centrifuge consolidation of slurries at 30 g and 90 g. The results on the impact of different su-profiles to the load displacement curves and bearing capacities of shallow foundations which were tested at 30 g on normally consolidated and overconsolidated kaolin samples are shown. The reliability of field-vane-shear tests on borehole samples is also discussed.