The shear strength behavior of two peaty soils

摘要

This paper presents experimental research concerning the shear behavior of two types of Italian peat, one normally, the other over consolidated. Organic soils are characterized by very high compressibility and high fiber content; two features that give rise to several problems during laboratory tests. Under consideration here are the effects of fibers and over consolidation on friction angle and stress-strain behavior. These are evaluated by means of untrained compression triaxial tests, with isotropic and anisotropic (K_o) consolidation being performed on natural and remolded samples. The experimental results are also analyzed by means of a bilinear failure criterion based on soil-reinforcement interaction mechanisms.