Evaluation for intrinsic compressibility of reconstituted clay using liquid limit, initial water content and plasticity index

Abstract

To establish the evaluation method of intrinsic compressibility, oeodemter test was performed on Zhuozi clay and Wuqing clay and some other test data of various kinds of reconstituted clays were collected from the previous literatures. The compressibility constants $e_{100}^{\ast }$ (void ratio at vertical stress of 100 kPa) and $C_c^{\ast }$ (compression index) are widely recognised as indicators of intrinsic compressibility. Therefore, the influencing mechanisms of index properties can be investigated by establishing correlations with $e_{100}^{\ast }$ and $C_c^{\ast }$. It has been found that $e_{100}^{\ast }$ and $C_c^{\ast }$ have linear relationships with liquid limit and normalised initial water content. Therefore, $e_{100}^{\ast }$ and $C_c^{\ast }$ can be quantitatively evaluated in terms of liquid limit and initial water content. Since plasticity index is the third factor that can slightly affect intrinsic compressibility, it can be used to modify the calculated value of $e_{100}^{\ast }$ and $C_c^{\ast }$. It is indicated that liquid limit, initial water content and plasticity index are all index properties that can affect intrinsic compressibility, based on which $e_{100}^{\ast }$ and $C_c^{\ast }$ can be calculated and finally the compression curves can be evaluated based on the intrinsic concept.

Keywords:

• Intrinsic compressibility constants
• liquid limit
• initial water content
• plasticity index

Acknowledgements

Associate professor Gang Liu from Xihua University is greatly appreciated for his useful suggestions in the process of preparing this manuscript. The first author would like to thank the financial support from the program of China Scholarship Council (CSC).