Undrained strength-deformation characteristics of Bangkok Clay under general stress condition

This paper presents an experimental study on the influence of principal stress direction and magnitude of intermediate principal stress on the undrained stress-strain-strength behaviors of Bangkok Clay. The results of torsional shear hollow cylinder and advanced triaxial tests with various principal stress directions and magnitudes of intermediate principal stress on undisturbed Bangkok Clay specimens are presented. The analysis of testing results include: (i) stress-strain and pore pressure behaviors, (ii) stiffness characteristics, and (iii) strength characteristics. The results assert clear evidences of anisotropic characteristics of Bangkok Clay at pre-failure and failure conditions. The magnitude of intermediate principal stress for plane-strain condition is also investigated. Both failure surface and plastic potential in deviatoric plane of Bangkok Clay are demonstrated to be isotropic and of circular shape which implies an associated flow rule. It is also observed that the shape of failure surface in deviatoric plane changes its size, while retaining its circular shape, with the change in direction of major principal stress. Concerning the behavior of Bangkok Clay found from this study, the discussions on the effects of employed constitutive modeling approach on the resulting numerical analysis are made.