Failure Prediction of Normally Consolidated Clays Using Stress Paths of Consolidated Undrained Tests

摘要

A new method of stability evaluation of the stage-constructed embankment on soft ground using stress path is developed and presented in this paper. A series of CU tests was carried out to develop the new method to evaluate the stability of soft ground. A new concept of stability index (SI) is defined with stress path. The effective stress path (ESP) line approaches to the Kf line gradually along the same direction to a certain point, then the direction changes and approaches to the Kf line rapidly. The potential of failure increases swiftly when SI is less than 0.4, and the value of SI=0.4 could be assumed as a representative value to evaluate the potential of failure for the tested material.