A particle-scale analysis of unload-reload hysteresis for normally consolidated kaolin

de Bono, John; McDowell, Glenn

Abstract

The mechanical behaviour of sands and clays subject to “normal” (plastic) compression are very similar, albeit at different stress levels, despite the differences in inter-particle interactions (Hertzian normal contact forces or similar for sand) and electro-chemical forces for clays. However the hysteretic behaviour of clay is very different to sand with clays exhibiting “springy” hysteresis loops and ratchetting volumetric compaction. This paper aims to show that whereas the “plastic” compression arises from degradation of macro particles, the “quasi-elastic” unload-reload behaviour is consistent with an increase in the number of platelet edge contacts as clay “stacks” rearrange and compact.

Citation

de Bono, J., & McDowell, G. (2023). A particle-scale analysis of unload-reload hysteresis for normally consolidated kaolin. Applied Clay Science, 246, Article 107190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2023.107190

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 24, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Oct 30, 2023
• Publication Date: Dec 15, 2023
• Deposit Date: Oct 31, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 31, 2023
• Journal: Applied Clay Science
• Print ISSN: 0169-1317
• Electronic ISSN: 1872-9053
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 246
• Article Number: 107190
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2023.107190
• Keywords: Kaolinite; Modelling; Soil mechanics
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/26800643
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169131723003770?via%3Dihub