A one-dimensional strain-rate based model for soft structured clays

The paper aims to investigate the destructuration effect on the time-dependent behaviour of soft structured clays. Viscosity coupled with destructuration is analysed based on experimental observations. A strain-rate based model is developed to describe the mechanical behaviour for both unstructured and structured clays under one-dimensional loading. The advantage of the proposed model lies in the determination of model parameters in a straightforward way, which leads to an easy use of the model for practical problems. Coupled with consolidation, the model is used to simulate oedometer tests at constant rate of strain and long-term creep oedometer tests on two structured clays. All comparisons between predicted and measured results demonstrate that the proposed model can reasonably describe the effect of destructuration on the time-dependent behaviour of soft structured clay under one-dimensional condition. Although the model is proposed for one-dimensional analysis, it can be a good base for developing a more general 3D model.