Modeling the behavior of artificially structured clays by the Modified Structured Cam Clay model

A practical constitutive model for artificially structured clays is formulated within the Structured Cam Clay (SCC) model framework, referred to as Modified Structured Cam Clay (MSCC) model. Based on experimental observation, it is considered that the effect of cementation is as the increase in mean effective stress. The strain softening behavior after the peak strength state caused by dilation and crushing of cementation structure for both normally and over-consolidated states can be simulated by the reduction in effective stress and the shrinkage of yield surface. The model parameters can be divided into those describing destructured properties and those for cementation structure, which can be simply determined from the conventional triaxial tests on artificially structured samples. The capability of the model is illustrated by the comparison of the simulated and measured undrained and drained shear responses of artificially structured Ariake clay.