Initial Shear Modulus of Remolded Sand-Clay Mixtures

Abstract

This paper presents the dynamic properties of undisturbed and remolded clays and sand-clay mixtures based on the results of undrained hollow cylindrical torsional cyclic simple shear tests. The clays were obtained from different sites having a wide range of plasticity, covering fluvial and marine sediments. The main focus of this investigation is the dynamic properties of sand-clay mixtures whose properties are intermediate between those of clays and sands. The initial shear moduli are examined in terms of fines content, and conventional plasticity index. An equivalent plasticity index has been defined in the present investigation and a better correlation is obtained between the initial shear modulus of sand-clay mixtures and this parameter than with the conventional plasticity index. Further, a simple method has been suggested to determine the equivalent plasticity index based on the conventional consistency limit tests and grain size analysis. An empirical correlation for predicting the initial shear modulus is also proposed.