Strain softening behaviors of clay under fast ring shear conditions

In this study, the strain softening behaviors of an overconsolidated silty clay was studied by a ring shear apparatus. The tested results present some different properties with the traditional shear tests. It was found that the silty clay samples with relatively high shear rates are liable to the occurrence of strain softening. With shear rate increasing, both the peak strengths and the post-peak strength reduction become greater. According to the data of deformation and pore pressure measured during the tests, there are two patterns of causing the strain softening of the silty clay. One is related with the contraction of soil specimens; the other is concerned with the generation of negative pore pressure due to the dilatancy of soil body.