Mechanistic approach to the shear strength behaviour of allophanic soils

Rao, Sudhakar M (1995) Mechanistic approach to the shear strength behaviour of allophanic soils. In: Engineering Geology, 40 (3-4). pp. 215-221.

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Abstract

The presence of allophane minerals imparts special engineering features to the volcanic ash soils. This study examines the reasons for the allophanic soils exhibiting unusual shear strength properties in comparison to sedimentary clays. The theories of residual shear strength developed for natural soils and artificial soil mixtures and the unusual surface charge properties of the allophane particle are invoked to explain the high shear strength values of these residual soils. The lack of any reasonable correlation between phi' (effective stress-strength parameter) and plasticity index values for allophanic soils is explained on the basis of the unusual structure of the allophane particle. The reasons as to why natural soil slopes in allophanic soil areas (example, Dominica, West Indies) are stable at much steeper angles than natural slopes in sedimentary clay deposits (London clay areas) are explained in light of the hypothesis developed in this study.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Engineering Geology
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Elsevier Science.
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Civil Engineering
Date Deposited:	01 Jun 2011 05:38
Last Modified:	01 Jun 2011 05:38
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/38096

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