Cui, Y. J. & Delage, P. (1996). GeÂotechnique 46, No.
2, 291±311
Yielding and plastic behaviour of an unsaturated compacted silt
Y. J. C U I  a n d P. D E L AG E 
Within the framework of an extended elasto-
plastic constitutive model for unsaturated soils
(loading-collapse (LC) model), an experimental
programme was performed in an osmotically
controlled suction triaxial apparatus. The lab-
oratory behaviour of a statically compacted silt
was studied, and particular attention was given
to the volume changes monitored during shear.
Isotropic loading tests con®rmed the main
features of the LC model related to the effect
of suction on volume changes, and allowed a
direct determination of the LC curve. Constant
ó3 and a few constant h shear tests were
performed in order to study yielding and plastic
¯ow at various increasing suctions, starting from
the as-compacted condition. Several yield cri-
teria were considered, depending on the type of
test performed. Some similarities between com-
pacted unsaturated soils and natural soft soils
were shown, such as the inclined elliptical form
of the yield curve, which results from the
anisotropic state of stress prevailing during K0
compaction. Some preconsolidation effects due
to increasing suction were identi®ed, and an
approximately isotropic suction hardening phe-
nomenon was evidenced, together with a non-
associated ¯ow rule. The direction of the plastic
strain increment seemed almost independent of
the suction, and a hyperbolic plastic potential,
similar to that of sand, was found satisfactory.
Inclined ellipses were chosen for modelling the
yield curves. As for any simple elasto-plastic
Cam clay type model applied to overconsoli-
dated soils, the predicted stress±strain curves
showed a sudden transition at yield, whereas a
much more gradual transition was observed in
practice. Volume change prediction appeared
satisfactory, showing the validity of the hyper-
bolic plastic potential.
KEYWORDS: compaction; constitutive relations; de-
formation; laboratory tests; partial saturation; plasti-
city.
Manuscript received 3 August 1994; revised manuscript
accepted 11 July 1995.
Discussion on this paper closes 2 September 1996; for
further details see p. ii.
 Ecole Nationale des Ponts et ChausseÂes, Paris.
291
Un programme expeÂrimental, mene aÁ l'aide
d'un appareil triaxial aÁ succion controÃleÂe par
un dispositif osmotique, a eÂte eÂlabore dans un
contexte eÂlasto-plastique deÂveloppe pour les sols
non satureÂs (modeÁle LC). On a eÂtudie au
laboratoire le comportement meÂcanique d'un
limon compacte statiquement, en accordant une
importance particulieÁre aÁ la mesure des varia-
tions volumiques se produisant pendant le
cisaillement. Des essais de compression isotropes
ont con®rme les aspects essentiels du modeÁle LC
qui traitent des effets de la succion sur les
variations de volume, et ont permis la deÂtermi-
nation de la courbe LC. Des essais de cisaille-
ment triaxial aÁ ó3 constant, et quelques tests aÁ
h constant ont eÂte reÂaliseÂs pour eÂtudier la
plasti®cation et l'eÂcoulement plastique du mateÂ-
riau aÁ diffeÂrentes succions, eÂgales ou supeÂrieures
aÁ la succion de compactage. On a consideÂreÂ,
suivant le type d'essai reÂaliseÂ, divers criteÁres de
plasti®cation. Un certain nombre d'analogies
avec les proprieÂteÂs des sols mous naturels ont
eÂte mises en eÂvidence sur les sols compacteÂs non
satureÂs: la forme de la surface de charge est
elliptique inclineÂe, du fait de l'anisotropie de
l'eÂtat de contrainte applique pendant le com-
pactage. Des effets de preÂconsolidation dus aÁ
une succion croissante ont eÂte identi®eÂs, ainsi
qu'un eÂcrouissage en succion isotrope et une
reÁgle d'eÂcoulement non associeÂe. La direction de
l'increÂment de deÂformation plastique s'est reÂ-
veÂleÂe eÃtre indeÂpendante de la succion. Comme
dans les sables, un potentiel plastique hyper-
bolique est apparu satisfaisant. On a modeÂliseÂ
les surfaces de charge par des ellipses inclineÂes.
Comme dans les modeÁles Cam-clay classiques,
les courbes effort-deÂformation calculeÂes avec le
modeÁle preÂsentent une transition marqueÂe aÁ la
plasti®cation, alors que ce passage est progressif
dans la reÂaliteÂ. Les changements de volume
calculeÂs sont apparus satisfaisants, ce qui con-
®rme la validite du potentiel plastique hyper-
bolique.
INTRODUCTION
Relatively few experimental data on the behaviour
of unsaturated soils are available, due to technical
dif®culties related to both control and measurement
of the suction. Early results of Bishop & Donald
292 CUI AND DELAGE
(1961) were obtained in the triaxial apparatus, the
suction being controlled by the axis translation
method (Richards, 1941). After that, most of the
experimental work carried out under controlled
suction conditions has dealt with volume change,
examined either under K0 conditions with oed-
ometers (Jennings & Burland, 1962; Barden,
Madedor & Sides, 1969; Aitchison & Woodburn,
1969; Escario, 1969; Fredlund & Morgenstern,
1976) or under isotropic stress conditions (Matyas
& Radhakrishna, 1968). As far as shear strength
properties were concerned, the few existing data
dealt with failure, i.e. determination of the friction
angle and cohesion. More often, data have been
obtained by direct shear box testing (Escario, 1980).
Some triaxial testing has also been performed by
Gulhati & Satija (1981) and Ho & Fredlund (1982).
Except in the work of Bishop & Donald and Ho &
Fredlund (where multi-stage testing was per-
formed), very few stress±strain curves under a
controlled suction were published in these early
papers.
More recently, results concerning the change of
cohesion and friction angle as a function of the
suction have been presented by Escario & Saez
(1986) for various plastic clays tested on a shear
box, and by Delage, Suraj de Silva & De Laure
(1987) on a compacted silt. In this last case, a new
type of suction-controlled triaxial apparatus based
on an osmotic principle derived from the work of
Kassif & Ben Shalom (1971) was used. Some
stress±strain curves under controlled suctions vary-
ing from 50 to 800 kPa showed an increase in both
stiffness and peak resistance with an increasing
suction. Changes of cohesion and friction angle
with suction were also found. In all these studies,
no volume changes were monitored during shear-
ing, and volumetric and shear behaviour were
treated separately.
As far as constitutive laws are concerned, the
®rst integrated model able to predict the various
aspects of unsaturated soil behaviour, called the
loading±collapse (LC) model, was presented by
Alonso, Gens & Hight (1987). In this work,
attention was essentially focused on volume change
behaviour, including collapse, and the model
qualitatively showed how an extended elasto-plastic
theory could satisfactorily account for the main
aspects of unsaturated soil behaviour. Alonso, Gens
& Josa (1990) presented a quantitative version of
the LC model, where both volume change and
shear strength behaviour were predicted within the
framework of an elasto-plastic theory. Some time
Table 1. Characteristics of the Jossigny silt
wL : % wP : % Plasticity % , 2 mm % . 80 mm
index
37 19 18 34
later, the ®rst experimental results on volume
change behaviour during shear tests appeared,
within the general framework of critical state
concepts and elasto-plasticity (Toll, 1990; Wheeler
& Sivakumar, 1992 and 1995; Cui & Delage,
1993; MaaÃtouk, Leroueil and La Rochelle, 1995).
In the present work, an experimental programme
has been de®ned in order to investigate various
aspects of the behaviour of compacted soils within
the framework outlined above. Normal Proctor
compacted samples have been studied in order to
approximate standard geotechnical engineering
problems. Special attention has been given to the
in¯uence of suction on the yielding behaviour of
the compacted soil. In order to con®rm the suction
hardening phenomenon described in the LC model,
the effect of suction increases on the yield curve
has been studied and the ¯ow rule has been
investigated. These investigations were aimed at
studying the capabilities and possible extensions of
the LC model, as well as providing the values of
constitutive parameters of the soil. Finally, some
predictions of the behaviour of the compacted soil
during triaxial testing are made.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Static compaction of the samples
The studied soil is an aeolian silt from the
eastern region of Paris (limon des plateaux),
located near the village of Jossigny. The clay
minerals of the soil, as determined by X-ray
diffractometry, are illite, kaolinite and inter-
strati®ed illite±smectite. No signi®cant swelling
properties have been observed on wetting. The
geotechnical properties of the soil are given in
Table 1.
The soil was ®rst dried under laboratory
conditions, then ground and passed through a
400 mm sieve. The dry powder was carefully
wetted with a spray gun to the standard Proctor
optimum moisture content, and allowed to stand
for 24 h for moisture equilibration. In order to get
the best possible standard homogeneity, compaction
was performed in three layers in a 38 mm dia.
cylindrical greased mould. A rate of 0´15 mm/min
for compression on a triaxial press was adopted,
and each layer was compacted to the normal
Proctor maximum dry density with a double piston
system. The interfaces between the different layers
were carefully scari®ed.
Figure 1 shows the stress±strain curve mon-
wopt : % ãdopt : kN/m3 ãs : kN/m3
4 18 16´7 27´2
 YIELDING OF UNSATURATED COMPACTED SILT
itored during the static compaction of the ®rst
layer. In this case, compression was performed
until the desired volume was reached, and the
maximum applied stress was noted (878 kPa). The
two other layers were successively compacted on
each side of the ®rst one. The criterion for
compacting these subsequent layers was no longer
the volume, but the maximum stress reached
during the compression of the ®rst layer. Due to
the steep slope in this area, a stress criterion has
been found to be much more precise than a
volumetric one. Furthermore, as in the ®eld, all
layers support the same maximum stress value
during compaction. A volumetric criterion could
have induced large differences of this stress value.
It is also important to know exactly the highest
stress supported by the sample during compaction
in order to understand its subsequent mechanical
behaviour. In this compaction process, the water
content has been shown to have a strong in¯uence
on the maximum applied stress, and it has been
observed that a water content difference of 0´3%
induced, for the same ®nal density, a difference as
large as 40 kPa for the maximum stress value. Due
to small variations of the initial water content, the
maximum compaction stress value ranged from
800 to 900 kPa. A ®lter paper measurement gave
an initial value of the suction of the Standard
Proctor Optimum compacted sample of 200 kPa,
which was later con®rmed by the osmotic tech-
nique, since no additional water exchanges were
observed under a 200 kPa controlled suction.
In order to examine the homogeneity of the
samples, some gamma densitometry measurements
were performed, as shown in Fig. 2. The results
showed that, even with precautions such as the
double piston system, perfect homogeneity was
1000
800
Vertical stress: kPa
600
400
200
0 1966). The ®rst adaptation to geotechnical testing
0 5 10
Settlement: mm
Fig. 1. Stress±strain curve obtained during the com-
paction of the ®rst layer of a sample
293
γdopt = 16.67 kN/m3 γdopt = 16.67 kN/m3
8
6
Height: cm
4
2
0
10 15 20 10 15 20
γd: kN/m3 γd: kN/m3
(a) (b)
Fig. 2. Typical density pro®les determined by gamma
densitometry
dif®cult to achieve. Variation around an average
density value was observed. Larger differences
between the three layers are observed in sample (a)
than in sample (b) in Fig. 2.
Osmotic technique for control of suction
The osmotic technique for the control of suction
is not commonly used in geotechnical testing. In
this technique, drainage of the sample is caused by
the process of osmosis, whereby the sample is
placed on a cellulotic semi-permeable membrane
which is permeable to water and beneath the
membrane a solution of polyethylene glycol (PEG)
is circulated. The large PEG molecules cannot go
through the membrane, resulting in an osmotic
suction applied to the sample through the mem-
brane and thus a negative value of pore water
pressure within the sample. By using a semi-
permeable membrane, the osmotic technique is
used to control the matrix suction, rather than the
osmotic suction, within the soil. The value of the
suction depends on the concentration of the
solution: the higher the concentration, the higher
is the suction. The relationship between osmotic
pressure and PEG concentration is well known for
two molecular weights (PEG 6000 and 20 000),
since coherent results have been obtained by
different authors, as shown by Williams &
Shaykewich (1969). Initially developed by biolo-
gists (Lagerwerff, Ogata & Eagle, 1961), this
technique was later adopted by soil scientists (Zur,
15 20 was by Kassif & Ben Shalom (1971) on an
oedometer, in order to study swelling soils.
Subsequent work has been done on a hollow
cylinder triaxial apparatus by Komornik, Livneh &
294 CUI AND DELAGE
Smucha (1980), and on a standard triaxial
apparatus by Delage et al. (1987). Some improve-
ments on the oedometer have been made by
Delage, Suraj de Silva & Vicol (1992) concerning
the circulation of the solution and the control of
water exchanges.
As compared with the axis translation method,
the main advantage of the osmotic technique is
that the soil remains close to its natural condition,
since no pore air pressure need be applied within
the sample. The pore water pressure is negative, as
in nature.
Suction imposition under zero applied stress
After compaction, the samples were enclosed in
a cellulotic impermeable ®lm and kept, with the
remaining hydrated soil powder, for 24 h in a
closed box in order to ensure moisture equilibrium
within the whole sample. During this period, a
very slight swelling of the sample was observed.
The ®rst suction imposition was performed under a
zero total stress condition using the device in
Fig. 3 (Delage & Suraj de Silva, 1992). The
triaxial samples were carefully inserted into a tube-
shaped semi-permeable membrane that had pre-
viously been slightly wetted. The membrane and
sample were then submerged in a magnetically
stirred PEG solution, whose concentration corre-
sponded to the desired osmotic pressure. As
Polythene sheet
PEG 20 000
Soil sample
Semi-permeable
membrane
Magnetic stirrer
Fig. 3. Osmotic suction control system under zero
total stress
compared with the triaxial cell condition, this
device allows a signi®cantly faster drainage of the
sample, since the radial drainage length was
19 mm instead of 38 mm. Suraj de Silva (1987)
showed that equilibrium was reached in this case
after approximately one week. Afterwards, the
sample was taken out and placed in the triaxial
cell.
The osmotic triaxial apparatus
The osmotic triaxial apparatus used in this work
was initially described by Delage et al. (1987).
Some improvements have been made in order to
monitor volume changes during shear (Cui, 1993;
Cui & Delage, 1993). The apparatus is shown in
Fig. 4. The sample is put in contact on both
bottom and top surfaces with the semi-permeable
membrane. Most of the equipment comes from a
standard 38 mm triaxial cell. Concentric grooves
are machined in the base pedestal and top cap for
the circulation of the PEG solution. A thin sieve
mesh is placed over the grooves and covered by
the membranes, which are glued with an epoxy
resin. The top cap is connected to the base of the
cell by two ¯exible tubes. The solution is
contained in a closed circuit comprising the serial
connection of the base of the cell, the top cap, a
reservoir and the pump. The reservoir is big
enough to ensure a relatively constant concentra-
tion in spite of water exchanges occurring through
the membranes between the sample and the
solution. The reservoir is closed with a rubber
cap, pierced by three glass tubes. Two of these
tubes are for in¯ow and out¯ow of the solution to
the triaxial cell; the third is connected to a
graduated capillary tube for monitoring water
exchanges. The stabilization of the level of the
solution in the tube indicates that an equilibrium
suction has been reached in the whole sample. In
this work, Spectrapor 4 membranes were used
F
PEG 20000
Glass cylinder
Oil
Water
Sieve
Soil
Semi-permeable
membrane
Air vent
Pump
σ3
Connected with an anti-evaporation system
Fig. 4. Osmotically controlled suction triaxial cell
 YIELDING OF UNSATURATED COMPACTED SILT
(molecular weight cut-off of 14 000±16 000), to-
gether with PEG 20 000. An air vent was
machined on the base of the cell in order to
ensure within the sample a constant pore air
pressure equal to atmospheric pressure.
Volume changes of the sample were monitored
by an optical system similar to that of Bishop &
Donald (1961). However, no mercury was used for
safety reasons. A cylindrical glass tube was placed
around the sample, and ®lled with slightly
coloured water. A thin layer of silicon oil was
put above the water, and the con®ning pressure
was applied by air. The silicon oil avoided any
dissolution of air into the water, and reduced
evaporation. It also provided a good optical
de®nition of the oil±air interface. Volume changes
were optically monitored by following the changes
of the oil±air interface level with a cathetometer. A
correction was made in order to take account of
the penetration of the top cap into the liquid. The
top cap (Fig. 4) was made high enough (73 mm) to
allow volume measurements up to an axial strain
of 20%; a hollow cylinder was machined in it in
order to minimize the distance between the point
of application of the axial force and the top of the
sample, so as to minimize any undesired moment
applied to the sample.
Volume changes of the PEG solution with
temperature ¯uctuations can alter the water ex-
change measurements, and it was necessary to
keep the temperature of the room at 20 6 0´58C.
Also, the PEG reservoir was plunged in a bath
with a temperature controlled to an accuracy of
60´1 OC. The relative humidity in the laboratory
was maintained at 75%.
An advantage of the cell design (with pore
water pressure controlled at both top and bottom
of the sample) was that the length of drainage was
reduced to half the height of the sample, which is
better for ensuring uniform suction conditions
during shear. The value of the shearing rate
295
adopted in the osmotic triaxial apparatus has been
previously discussed in Delage et al. (1987),
according to Ho & Fredlund (1982). This approach
was derived from the work of Gibson & Henkel
(1954) on triaxial testing of saturated samples. The
main problem is that, unlike in the saturated case,
the rate of suction change during shearing is
completely unknown. As a compromise between a
good suction regulation and a reasonable test
duration, a rate of 2 mm/min was adopted.
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
The experimental programme was to investigate
the behaviour of the compacted soil within an
elasto-plastic framework, taking account of the
effect of suction changes. Various tests were
performed in order to investigate the yield curves
of the compacted soil as a function of the applied
suction
(a) isotropic loading tests with either step loading
or continuous loading
(b) shear tests under constant cell pressure
(c) radial stress path tests, corresponding to a
constant ç = q/ p stress ratio value.
The tests were interpreted using the LC model
standard notation, which is introduced progressively
below.
Isotropic loading
Eight tests were conducted, at four suctions
(s = ua 2 uw = 200, 400, 800 and 1500 kPa), as
given in Table 2. In series A, four step loading
tests were performed with total stresses up to
600 kPa ( p = 25, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 600 kPa).
During each step, the pressure was maintained
for approximately 48 h to ensure stabilization of
both water exchanges and volume changes (Delage
et al., 1992). In series B, with the same suction

Table 2. Isotropic loading tests

Series Compaction Suction application Compression

ómax:  Dry w1 : ãd1 : s: ãd2 : e2 w2 : e3 w3 :

kPa weight: g % kN/m3 kPa kN/m3 % %
A. Step loading 882 145´5 17´3 16´70 200 16´70 0´629 17´3 0´569 17´1
876 144´4 18´2 16´84 400 16´86 0´613 16´9 0´563 16´7
849 144´7 18´0 16´72 800 16´72 0´627 16´1 0´576 16´0
849 144´3 18´1 16´71 1500 16´74 0´625 15´3 0´580 15´3
B. Continuous 827 144´4 18´2 16´54 200 16´57 0´642 17´6 0´566 17´2
loading 854 144´6 17´8 16´62 400{ 16´65 0´634 15´8 0´570 15´4
827 144´1 18´2 16´46 800 16´50 0´648 15´6 0´612 14´0
854 144´5 17´8 16´42 1500{ 16´49 0´649 13´2 0´618 12´8
ó
max is the maximum compaction stress; the variations of ómax are due to differences of the compaction water contents.
{ Two unloadings were conducted in series B under s = 400 kPa and s = 1500 kPa. The ®nal values of void ratio and
water content were 0´583, 0´627 and 15´4%, 13´2%, respectively.
296 CUI AND DELAGE

values, continuous loading up to a total stress of
600 kPa was performed using computer-controlled
servo-operated pneumatic valves, at a rate of 1 kPa
every 2´5 min. This corresponded to a maximum
axial displacement rate (when the sample stiffness
was lowest, during the ®rst loading increment) of
0´6 mm/min, which was deemed satisfactory. The
maximum volume change rate was 3´6 3 10ÿ3 %/
min. A horizontal thin line on the piston allowed
optical measurements of axial displacements.
The results of series A are shown on a v±log p
diagram in Fig. 5, where p is the mean net stress
(= (ó1 + ó2 + ó3 )/3 2 ua ). It can be seen that the
initial void ratio of the sample subjected to
s = 400 kPa is smaller than the three others, which
are close together. The general shapes of these
curves are in good agreement with LC model
concepts. All curves exhibit two approximately
linear segments, like overconsolidated saturated
soils. More points would be necessary to de®ne
better the slope of the curve above a total stress of
300 kPa. The slope k in the elastic zone seems
reasonably independent of the suction, whereas the
slope ë(s) in the plastic zone is suction-dependent:
the higher the suction, the smaller is the slope.
The intersections of the two linear segments of the
curves de®ne the isotropic yield stress p0 (s),
whose value increases with suction, as shown in
Table 3.
The v±log p plots from the continuous loading
tests of series B are shown in Fig. 6. In this case,
void ratio changes are calculated from optical
readings, and the curves include some gaps
corresponding to overnight periods (approximately
10 h). As in series A, the s = 400 kPa sample is
denser than the others. For lower stresses, the
slopes k are reasonably suction-independent,
although k (400 kPa) is higher than the others in
the intermediate stress range. There is a clear
decrease of the plastic compressibility (slope ë(s))
when suction increases in the higher stress range
( p . p0 (s)). Although higher stresses should be
applied for a better determination of the slope,
especially for high suctions (s = 800 and 1500
kPa), the isotropic yield stress p0 (s) clearly
increases with suction (Table 3). The unloading
sequences performed at s = 400 and 1500 kPa
con®rmed the irreversible nature of the strains
for p . p0 and showed slight suction dependency
of the k parameter.
The smaller plastic compressibility of the
s = 400 kPa sample of Fig. 5 demonstrates the
importance of the initial density, which can be
stronger than the suction effect and hide it. As far

1.66 1.66
s = 200 kPa
s = 200 kPa s = 400 kPa
s = 400 kPa s =800 kPa

1.64 s =800 kPa 1.64 s = 1500 kPa

s = 1500 kPa
Specific volume v
Specific volume v

1.62 1.62

1.60 1.60

1.58 1.58

1.56 1.56

10 100 1000 10 100 1000

Mean net stress p: kPa Mean net stress p: kPa

Fig. 6. Volume changes under continuous isotropic

Fig. 5. Volume changes under isotropic step loading loading

Table 3. In¯uence of suction and loading procedure on the values of the isotropic yield stress p0 (s)
Series
A B A B A B A B
s: kPa 200 400 800 1500
p0 : kPa 268 280 279 350 307 380 320 435
 YIELDING OF UNSATURATED COMPACTED SILT
as plastic compressibility is concerned, the in¯u-
ence of suction and density are similar, since any
increase in either of these parameters reduces the
compressibility.
Plotting the values of p0 (s) as a function of s
allows the determination of the so-called loading±
collapse (LC) curve, presented in Fig. 7 for both
step and continuous loadings. The curve corre-
sponding to the continuous loading points is
derived from the theoretical expression of the LC
model and is detailed below. Since no tests have
been performed under a zero suction, the value of
the p0 (0) parameter, which is the yield stress under
isotropic loading in a saturated state, has not been
directly determined. It can be extrapolated from
the curves. Although the shapes of both curves are
reasonably compatible with the expected one
(Alonso et al., 1990), a great difference is
observed between the results of the two loading
procedures.
Effect of the loading procedure
In addition to the difference between p0 (s)
values, the higher suction curves of Figs 5 and 6
show less volume change under continuous loading
than under step loading. This is interpreted as
follows: in the step loading case, the stress
increase is large and sudden, and it induces a
drastic instantaneous (undrained) decrease of the
volume of the sample. This undrained loading
produces excess pore water pressure within the
sample, so that the suction of the soil is no longer
regulated by the system, and it decreases drasti-
cally. Due to the low permeability of the
membrane (10ÿ11 m/s) and of the soil, a period
is necessary to bring the system to equilibrium by
2000
Step loading
Continuous loading
Model
1500
Suction s: kpa
1000
500
0
0 200
Isotropic stress p: kPa
Fig. 7. Experimental determination of the LC yield
curve for step and continuous loading
297
extracting water from the sample. As mentioned
above, 48 h is necessary in the case of an
oedometer, with a drainage length of 2 cm. During
this period, the suction is varying through the
sample at lower values than the desired one. The
volume changes therefore actually occur under a
lower average suction than intended, with a smaller
p0 value, and hence the strains are larger. A better
regulation is ensured in the case of a continuous
loading, and the compressibility properties corre-
spond better to the imposed suction. Fig. 7 shows
that the difference between the two curves is
smaller for lower suctions, and that the same p0 (0)
is determined at zero suction. This is consistent
with the proposed interpretations, since the effect
should be smaller when saturation is approached.
This observation is important, since it shows
that a standard oedometer step loading procedure
is not suitable for unsaturated soils, and should not
be used for investigating compressibility properties
under controlled suctions. In saturated soils, the
instantaneously applied total stress is ®rst sup-
ported by the pore water, and the soil skeleton is
progressively loaded during pore pressure dissipa-
tion. For unsaturated soils, this procedure over-
estimates the compressibility ë(s), underestimates
the yield stress p0 (s) and is invalid. To perform
suitable tests with a good suction regulation, it is
necessary to control the rate of volume change, in
relation to the drainage path and the permeability
of the sample.
Shear tests under constant cell pressure
Table 4 describes the 20 triaxial shear tests
performed under controlled suctions and constant
cell pressures. Initial and ®nal values of void ratio
and degree of saturation are given, as well as dry
weights of the samples. The degrees of saturation
are calculated by combining water exchange
measurements and sample volume change measure-
ments. Five cell pressures (50, 100, 200, 400 and
600 kPa) and four suction values (200, 400, 800
and 1500 kPa) were generally applied. The lowest
suction value (200 kPa) was chosen as similar to
the initial suction produced by the compaction
process. The three higher values of applied suction
therefore correspond to a drying process.
Stress±strain curves at ó3 = 50 kPa under various
suctions (from 200 to 1500 kPa) are presented in
Fig. 8(a). With increasing suction, the shape of the
curves gradually changes, and the initial moduli
and maximum deviatoric stresses increase. For
suctions above 400 kPa, an increasingly pro-
nounced maximum is observed at a reducing level
400 600
of strain, illustrating an increasing brittleness of
the sample with suction. Visual observations
showed that peaks corresponded to the develop-
ments of shear planes, corresponding to failure by
298 CUI AND DELAGE

Table 4. Constant ó3 shear tests

After consolidation After shearing

ó3 : kPa s: kPa Dry weight: e Sr : % e Sr : %

g
0 143´4 0´694 98 0´683 100
200 144´7 0´621 77 0´605 79
50 400 145´4 0´623 74 0´614 75
800 145´3 0´619 68 0´613 67
1500 144´4 0´620 62 0´620 56
0 144´1 0´711 96 0´685 100
200 145´4 0´613   
100 400 145´1 0´610   
800 146´7 0´600   
1500 144´2 0´612 64 0´595 64
200 143´4 0´599 77 0´553 79
400 144´7 0´577 74 0´539 77
200 800 143´5 0´599 70 0´577 70
1500 143´3 0´621 64 0´594 64
200 144´8 0´600 80 0´498 92
400 144´0 0´570 82 0´493 84
400 800 144´6 0´607 67 0´530 74
1500 143´8 0´619 66 0´557 69
200 145´5 0´569 84 0´468 98
600 400 144´4 0´563 79 0´476 85
 No volume or water exchange measurements.

strain localization. At strains larger than 8% a
residual state seems to be reached, with a constant
value of q reasonably independent of the suction.
As before, the volume change curves (Fig. 8(b))
are affected by the lack of data during nights. For
suctions larger than 200 kPa, contraction followed
by dilation is observed: the higher the suction, the
larger is the dilatancy. Of course, volume change
curves are valid only before any peak in the
deviator stress curve. All curves are well ordered
and evolve regularly with increasing suction. At a
constant total con®ning stress, the effect of the
suction is opposite to that of con®ning stress, since
an increasing suction favours dilatancy. The critical
state appears only for the as-compacted suction
(s = 200 kPa), for which volume change and
deviator stress are approximately constant for
strains larger than 5%.
For a higher cell pressure (ó3 = 100 kPa, Fig. 9),
peaks are less pronounced and appear only above
s = 800 kPa at larger axial strains, illustrating a
lower brittleness. Increases of initial moduli and
maximum deviatoric stresses with suction are again
observed. Only one volume change curve is
available in this case; at s = 1500 kPa the change
from contraction to dilation behaviour occurs
slightly before the peak, as previously.
For ó3 = 200 kPa (Fig. 10), a peak deviator
stress is observed only for s = 1500 kPa, at 10%
axial strain. This shows the decreasing brittleness
with increasing stress. Dilation occurs only for
s = 1500 kPa, at a similar strain to qmax . At this
suction, the magnitude of the initial contraction
seems unexpectedly large compared with other
suction values. This is probably related to the high
initial void ratio (Table 4). Except for s = 200 kPa,
where the volume continuously decreases, the
critical state seems to be reached at larger strains.
Under ó3 = 400 and 600 kPa (Fig. 11 for
400 kPa; the two tests at 600 kPa are not shown),
there are no peaks in the deviator stress curves and
dilatancy completely disappears. The deviatoric
stresses and initial moduli increase with suction
whereas contraction decreases, as previously. Sta-
bilization of stress±strain and volume change
curves is no longer observed.
The effect of the cell pressure at a constant
suction is illustrated in Fig. 12, where all test
results at s = 200 kPa are plotted together. As
usual, the maximum deviatoric stress and initial
moduli increase with the cell pressure. However,
the initial modulus increase with stress is less
evident than with suction (Figs 8±11). This is due
to the stress and suction history of the samples: in
the small strain zone where this modulus is
determined (åa , 1%), the applied stresses have
not exceeded the maximum stresses supported
during compaction, which occurred with a vertical
 YIELDING OF UNSATURATED COMPACTED SILT 299
800 1000

800
600

Deviator stress q: kPa

Deviator stress q: kPa

600

400

400

s = 200 kPa s = 200 kPa

200
s = 400 kPa 200 s = 400 kPa
s = 800 kPa s = 800 kPa
s = 1500 kPa s = 1500 kPa

0 0

(a) (a)

−0.5 0.00

0.0 0.50
Volumetric strain: %

Volumetric strain: %

0.5 1.00

1.0 1.50

1.5 2.00
0 5 10 15 0 5 10 15
Axial strain: % Axial strain: %
(b) (b)

Fig. 8. Stress±strain and volume change curves at Fig. 9. Stress±strain and volume change curves at
ó3 = 50 kPa and various controlled suctions ó3 = 100 kPa and various controlled suctions

stress of approximately 850 kPa. Conversely, for all
samples, the suction values are higher than or
equal to the initial suction value (200 kPa). The
®rst application of a suction greater than pre-
viously experienced by the sample has a distinct
effect on the initial modulus.
All volume change curves in Fig. 12 show an
increase of compressive behaviour with stress.
Again one can observe the form of volumetric
behaviour usually associated with normally con-
solidated soils for ó3 > 200 kPa, whereas the
ó3 = 50 kPa sample apparently reaches the critical
state for a strain higher than 3%.
For a higher suction (s = 1500 kPa, Fig. 13), the
observation concerning the slight in¯uence of the
cell pressure on the initial modulus is still valid.
Volume change curves also show a progressive
evolution from dilating to compressive behaviour
with increasing stress. Stress±strain curves clearly
show the change from brittle behaviour (ó3 =
50 kPa) to ductile behaviour, with no more peak
(ó3 = 400 kPa).
Radial stress path tests
The tests at constant values of ç were
performed on a standard triaxial press at a constant
rate of axial strain (2 mm/min). The cell pressure
was applied through a servo-operated pneumatic
valve controlled by a computer. According to the
increase of axial stress measured by the load cell,
the computer increased the cell pressure in order to
maintain constant the value of ç. This control and
logging system worked well for low strain rates,
and when the soil stiffness was not too large. The
tests were stopped at a cell pressure corresponding
to the maximum available pressure provided by the
air compressor, i.e. 600 kPa. This system is much
300 CUI AND DELAGE
1500 1500

Deviator stress q: kPa

Deviator stress q: kPa

1000 1000

yield

500 500
s = 200 kPa s = 200 kPa
s = 400 kPa s = 400 kPa
s = 800 kPa s = 800 kPa
s = 1500 kPa s = 1500 kPa

0 0

(a)
(a)

0.00 0.00

1.00
0.50
2.00
Volumetric strain: %

Volumetric strain: %

1.00
3.00

1.50 4.00

5.00
2.00
6.00
2.50
7.00

3.00 8.00
0 5 10 15 0 5 10 15 20

Axial strain: % Axial strain: %

(b) (b)

Fig. 10. Stress±strain and volume change curves at Fig. 11. Stress±strain and volume change curves at
ó3 = 200 kPa and various controlled suctions ó3 = 400 kPa and various controlled suctions

less expensive than a complete stress path con-
trolled press. With this system the test duration is
completely unknown, since it depends on both the
imposed strain rate and the stiffness of the sample.
Two stress ratios were considered (Table 5): two
tests were performed at ç = 0´5 (s = 200 and
1500 kPa) and four tests at ç = 1 (s = 200, 400,
800 and 1500 kPa).
Results for ç = 0´5 are presented in Fig. 14. It is
observed that the deviatoric stress continuously
increases with strain, with no maximum. This is
normal since no failure can be attained with such a
low stress ratio. As in the case of constant ó3 tests,
the sample at s = 1500 kPa is stiffer than the one
at s = 200 kPa. Volume change curves exhibit a
general compressive behaviour. For the same small
axial strain (åa , 0´85%), greater compression has
occurred for the sample at 1500 kPa than for the
one at 200 kPa. However, this is slightly mislead-
ing: at a suction of 1500 kPa, a given axial strain
corresponds to a higher applied stress than at a
suction of 200 kPa, because of the higher sample
stiffness. The åv ±log p plot in Fig. 15 shows the
same trend as the constant ó3 tests, i.e. a larger
compressibility for a smaller suction.
YIELD BEHAVIOUR
In elasto-plastic theory, the yield curve in a q, p
plane is the limit of the zone where the soil
behaves elastically, i.e. in a fully reversible way.
This is best identi®ed by cyclic loading tests. For
soils, full reversibility is observed only for strains
smaller than 0´01%. However, it is common
practice to assume, for ®ne-grained saturated soils
submitted to an isotropic loading, that volume
 YIELDING OF UNSATURATED COMPACTED SILT 301
1500 1500
σ3 = 50 kPa
σ3 = 100 kPa
σ3 = 200 kPa
σ3 = 400 kPa

Deviator stress q: kPa

Deviator stress q: kPa

σ3 = 600 kPa
1000 1000

500 500
σ3 = 50 kPa
σ3 = 100 kPa
σ3 = 200 kPa
σ3 = 400 kPa

0 0

(a) (a)

0.00 −1.00

1.00
0.00
2.00
Volumetric strain: %

Volumetric strain: %

1.00
3.00

4.00 2.00

5.00
3.00
6.00

7.00 4.00
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20

Axial strain: % Axial strain: %

(b) (b)

Fig. 12. Effect of con®ning pressure on the stress± Fig. 13. Effect of con®ning pressure on the stress±
strain and volume change curves for constant suction strain and volume change curves for constant suction
(s = 200 kPa) (s = 1500 kPa)

Table 5. Constant ç tests

ç s: kPa ómax : kPa Dry weight: g Before loading After loading

e Sr : % e Sr : %
0´5 200 772 142´6 0´652 74 0´584 82
1500 772 142´6 0´645 58 0´609 61
200 772 143´9 0´642 76 0´576 83
1 400 772 143´9 0´636 70 0´558 77
800 772 143´8 0´634 65 0´584 70
1500 772 144´0 0´630 59 0´583 62
 Maximum compaction stress.
302 CUI AND DELAGE
500 0

400 1
Deviator stress q: kPa

Volumetric strain: %
300
2

200
3

100
s = 200 kPa
s = 1500 kPa 4
s = 200 kPa
0 s = 1500 kPa
5
(a)
1 10 100 1000
Mean net stress p: kPa
0.00
Fig. 15. Volume change as a function of mean net
stress p for tests at ç = 0´5
1.00
segments. In some conditions, a well-de®ned peak
was also observed. Yield points were easily de®ned
Volumetric strain: %

2.00 either at the peak or by extrapolating the two

3.00
4.00
5.00
0 1
Axial strain: %
(b)
Fig. 14. Stress±strain and volume change curves at
ç = 0´5 and two controlled suctions
changes are reasonably reversible in the over-
consolidated zone, which is considered as an
elastic zone. This leads to larger elastic strains,
and this criterion may be called a pseudo-elastic
volumetric criterion, as suggested by Biarez &
Hicher (1994).
Within the general framework of the critical
state concept (Roscoe, Scho®eld & Wroth, 1958;
Roscoe & Burland, 1968), various authors have
studied the behaviour of natural soft clays
(Mitchell, 1970; Wong & Mitchell, 1975; Tavenas
& Leroueil, 1979(a) and (b); Leroueil, Tavenas &
Le Bihan, 1983; Graham, Noonan & Lew, 1983;
Magnan, Shahanguian & Josseaume, 1982; Moulin,
1989; Oka, Leroueil & Tavenas, 1989). In these
soils, it has often been observed on various stress
paths (constant ó3 or ç) that stress±strain curves
could be approximated by two straight line
segments on the experimental stress±strain curve.
The pre-yield behaviour of natural soft clays is
rather stiff, and linear elasticity is generally a
reasonable approximation in the small strain range.
Stress increments after yielding produce larger
strains and pore water pressures. The independence
of the yield curve from the stress path has been
demonstrated, and it appeared satisfactory to
determine the yield point either in the q±åa
2 3
diagram for the yield points located over the K0
line or in the p±åv diagram for points under the
K0 line. The use of an energy dissipation criterion
allows the in¯uence of stress path to be overcome
(Tavenas, Des Rosiers, Leroueil, La Rochelle &
Roy, 1979). All these features are related to the
geological history of the soft clays, and to a slight
overconsolidation due to a variety of processes
such as erosional off-loading, cementation and pore
water chemistry changes (Graham et al., 1983).
The case of laboratory statically compacted soils
is of course different, due to a much denser initial
state. However, some overconsolidation effects
should be encountered due to the previous appli-
cation of the compaction stress.
As shown above, no obvious bilinear shape has
been observed on the deviator stress±axial strain
curves, and when a maximum deviator stress value
was observed on the stress±strain curves the peak
was not very sharp. However, if the results of
constant ó3 shear tests are plotted in a v±log p
diagram (see Fig. 16, where tests of Fig. 10 have
been used, with ó3 = 200 kPa and s = 200, 400,
800 and 1500 kPa), two approximately straight line
segments are observed, and it is possible to
 YIELDING OF UNSATURATED COMPACTED SILT
1.65
1.60
Specific volume v
1.55
s = 200 kPa
s = 400 kPa
s = 800 kPa
s = 1500 kPa
1.50
100 200 300 400
Mean stress p: kPa
Fig. 16. Determination of the yield points in triaxial
tests at ó3 = 200 kPa
determine a yield point by extrapolating the two
segments. Yielding is less obvious than in natural
soft soils, since no sudden collapse of any brittle
and loose microstructure occurs. In reality, yielding
is progressive, and strictly speaking it is still going
on at the stress values deduced by bilinear
extrapolation.
Furthermore, some typical features of unsatu-
rated soil behaviour are observed on these curves:
before yielding, the slope of the segments is
slightly suction-dependent, whereas slopes after
yielding are clearly suction-dependentÐthe larger
the suction, the ¯atter is the slope. As for volume
changes under isotropic loading, the yield stress
regularly increases consistently with suction.
If yield points calculated from the v±log p
curves are plotted the q±åa stress±strain curves
(Fig. 10), one observes for the ó3 = 200 kPa tests
quite a good correspondence in terms of axial
strains, since all yield points are located at
åa = 2%. This point separates two zones
(a) for smaller strains, curves are approximately
linear with a high modulus, and probably small
irreversible strains (in this domain, elastic
behaviour seems to be a good approximation)
(b) for larger strains, the behaviour of the soil may
be considered as elasto-plastic with strain
hardening.
This shows a good consistency between shearing
and volume change properties, and con®rms the
validity of the yield criterion. The same observa-
tions were made for other ó3 values, even at 50 kPa,
where the yield stress values were close together,
and included values between p = 107 and 143 kPa.
At ó3 = 100 kPa, volume change was measured only
303
for s = 1500 kPa. This provided the value of a yield
strain on the stress±strain curve, which was used for
other suctions.
For constant ç tests, the previous volumetric
criterion is not as well adapted, as shown by the
regular curvature of the curves in Fig. 15 (ç = 0´5),
and another criterion has been adopted. A frequent
assumption made in elasto-plastic modelling of soil
behaviour (Roscoe et al., 1958; Roscoe & Burland,
1968; Wong & Mitchell, 1975; Nova & Wood,
1979; Poorooshasb & Pietruzczak, 1985) is that the
direction of the plastic strain increment depends
only on the stress ratio ç. This has been con®rmed
by experimental data (Lanier, Di Prisco & Nova,
1991). A possible method for deriving the plastic
strain from the total strain is to consider the p9±åv
500 700 or the q±ås diagram (Graham et al., 1983;
Josseaume & Azizi, 1991); in this method, the
elastic part is estimated according to the elastic
modulus and subtracted from the total strain.
Another commonly used and simpler method is
to neglect the elastic strain, which is generally
much smaller than the plastic strain (Wong &
Mitchell, 1975). For simplicity, the latter method is
used here.
Figure 17 shows the variation in the direction of
the plastic strain increment dåv /dås as a function
of p, for ç = 0´5 and s = 1500 kPa. For clarity, a
reduced number (1/10) of experimental points is
represented. After a large decrease and an oscilla-
tion a plateau is observed, corresponding to a
constant direction of the plastic strain increment.
The point indicated by the arrow has been chosen
as the yield point for constant ç tests. The
oscillation stage may be interpreted as due to the
modi®cation of the soil microstructure created
during compaction and suction application so as
to adapt to the stress path followed (Gens, 1982).
Yield points identi®ed in this way are more
uncertain than those identi®ed in constant ó3 tests,
where yield was more apparent.
10
8
dεpv /dεps
6
4
Yield
2
0
200 400 600 800 1000
Mean stress p: kPa
Fig. 17. Determination of the yield point in triaxial
tests at ç = 0´5, s = 1500 kPa
304
Yield surface
Four yield curves are plotted in Fig. 18, for
suction values of 200, 400, 800 and 1500 kPa, with
the results of constant ó3 and constant ç tests. The
yield curves are well de®ned in the zone of higher
ç values, mainly by constant ó3 tests. There is
good agreement between constant ó3 and constant
ç tests in this zone. More data are necessary for a
proper determination of the curves below the K0
direction, at all suction values. A good determina-
tion is also provided by the isotropic compression
tests (ç = 0), as seen above. Results at ç = 0´5 do
not ®t well with other data. This could be due to
the adoption of a different yield criterion, as
mentioned above. The determination of the yield
curves in this area would require further investiga-
tion. This is why curves are represented by broken
lines in this zone, extrapolated from both high and
null ç tests. Since yielding has been observed
during isotropic loading tests up to con®ning
stresses ranging from 280 to 435 kPa (Table 3),
results of shearing tests at ó3 = 400 and 600 kPa
have not been plotted. They correspond to hard-
ening and expansion of the yield curve during
consolidation prior to shearing, and are considered
below.
The general shape of the yield curves is similar
to that of natural soils, i.e. near-elliptical and
inclined. The effect of a suction equal to or greater
than the as-compacted value (200 kPa up to
1500 kPa) is very clear: it induces an expansion
of the yield curve which exhibits a suction-
hardening effect, as proposed by Alonso et al.
(1990). This effect can be compared with the
stress-hardening effect observed on natural soils
sampled at various depths (Graham et al., 1983).
The angle of inclination of the yield curves is
1000
800
Deviator stress q: kPa
600 s = 400 kPa
s = 200 kPa
400
200
K0w
0 s = 1500 kPa yield curve, which crosses the p-axis
0 200 400
Mean stress p: kPa
Fig. 18. Experimental determination of yield curves at
various suctions
CUI AND DELAGE
independent of the suction. Since tests at ó3 =
50 kPa showed only slight suction dependency of
the yield stresses, the yield curves get closer one
to another in this area.
As a ®rst attempt, and since no K0 tests under
constant suction were performed, the inclination of
the curves has been compared with a K0w line,
which was determined by running constant water
content (varying suction) oedometer tests with
lateral stress measurements (Beros, 1990). The
inclined axis of the yield curves seems to be
reasonably symmetric about the K0w line for all
suction values. In fact, since the angle of
inclination is apparently not suction-dependent, a
constant water content test should be appropriate
for K0 determination.
The inclination of the yield curves indicates a
clear anisotropy of the compacted soil, which may
be related to the stress state supported during
compaction. In other words, the microstructure of
the soil changed during compaction in order to
provide the greatest possible resistance to the
applied stresses. This is similar to the effect of
sedimentation on natural soft soils.
The stress state during compaction can be
plotted, taking a K0w value of 0´45 and a vertical
compaction stress between 800 and 900 kPa giving
p < 540 kPa, q < 470 kPa). The point lies between
the s = 200 kPa and s = 400 kPa yield curves in
Fig. 18, whereas the suction after compaction was
about 200 kPa. As observed above, the inclined
shape of the curves explains why the yield stress
values under isotropic loading (Fig. 18) are smaller
(280±435 kPa) than the applied mean stress during
compaction. When suction is applied, the expan-
sion of the yield curve occurs without any rotation
of the axis, showing apparently an isotropic effect
of the suction during hardening.
The shape and evolution of the yield curves
allow an interpretation of the respective effects of
suction and con®ning stress on the constant ó3
s = 1500 kPa
stress±strain curves. In Fig. 8, the increase of the
brittleness of the sample with suction at ó3 =
50 kPa is related to an increase of the distance
between the ó3 value and the intersection of the
s = 800 kPa
yield curve with the p-axis ( p0 (s) = 280±435 kPa),
determined by isotropic loading. Since this point
moves towards the right with increasing suction,
due to suction hardening, the pseudo-overconsoli-
dation ratio increases, thus increasing brittleness.
Moreover, the decrease of brittleness with increas-
ing stress under constant suction observed in
Fig. 13 (s = 1500 kPa) is a common feature of
soil behaviour, compatible with the shape of the
600 800 1000 at 435 kPa. The increasing con®ning stress (from
50 to 400 kPa) induces a decrease of the apparent
overconsolidation ratio, and normally consolidated
behaviour is expected for ó3 = 400 kPa.
 YIELDING OF UNSATURATED COMPACTED SILT 305
Another consequence of Fig. 18 concerns the 14
slight con®ning stress dependency of the initial 12 s = 200 kPa
s = 400 kPa
slopes of both stress±strain and volume change 10
s = 800 kPa
curves in Fig. 12 (s = 200 kPa) and 13 (s =

1500 kPa), for smaller strains. When shear starts,
the stress path starts in the elastic zone, where
both bulk and shear moduli are independent of the
con®ning stress, until the maximum supported state
of stress has been attained. This is in good
agreement with the properties of overconsolidated
soils.
Conversely, there is an obvious suction depen-
dency of the initial moduli (Figs 8±11), even in the
elastic zone. This is probably because the applied
suctions are equal to or greater than the as-
compacted suction, and have never been supported
before by the sample. So suction hardening affects
these elastic moduli, which depend on the size of
the elastic domain. This point should be considered
further in the modelling of unsaturated soils. A
three-dimensional view of the yield surface in the
q±p±s space is shown in Fig. 19.
PLASTIC FLOW
Plastic ¯ow has been examined by studying the
direction of the plastic strain increment dåpv /dåps in
the various tests. Fig. 20 is obtained from tests
with ç = 1 at various suctions, by plotting the ratio
dåv /dås as a function of the mean net stress p, in
the same way as in Fig. 17 for the yield
determination. In Fig. 20, all curves tend towards
the same ®nal value of 1 at higher stresses. Two
conclusions may be drawn from this: ®rst, the ratio
dåpv /dåps and hence the ¯ow rule seems to be
independent of the suction; second, the ®nal value
dεpv /dεps
8 s = 1500 kPa
6
4
2
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Mean stress p: kPa
Fig. 20. Determination of the direction of the plastic
strain increment at various suctions (ç = 1)
In a similar way, the results of shear tests under
constant cell pressure can be presented in a dåpv /
dåps ±q/p diagram (Fig. 21). The curves can be
separated into two segments, with small slopes for
low q/p values and larger slopes for higher q/p
values. It has also been found that the q/p values
at intersections correspond to the yield points
determined previously according to the volumetric
criterion, and this could be another yield criterion.
In the plastic zone, the slopes are independent of
the suction, and a linear and non-suction-dependent
relationship between dåpv /dåps and ç can be derived,
similar to that of the Nova & Wood (1979) model
for sands. In order to determine the orientation of
the plastic strain increment vector at yield, the
values of dåpv /dåps were taken from the intersection
points of Fig. 21.
1.5 s = 200 kPa
s = 400 kPa
s = 800 kPa
1.0
dεpv /dεpv

s = 1500 kPa
of dåpv /dåps is equal to that of 1/ç = 1 in the present
case. Although fewer data are available for q/ p = 0.5
0´5, Fig. 17 exhibits the same trend.

q 0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
(a)

3.0
σ3 = 50 kPa
σ3 = 100 kPa

s = 800 kPa 2.0 σ3 = 200 kPa

σ3 = 400 kPa
dεpv /dεps

s = 400 kPa 1.0

0.0

−1.0
p0(0) = 240 kPa 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
η
s = 200 kPa LC p
(b)
s = 1500 kPa
s Fig. 21. Changes in the direction of the plastic strain
increment as a function of ç: (a) for various suctions
Fig. 19. Three-dimensional view of the yield surface in (ó3 = 200 kPa); (b) for various con®ning stresses
q±p±s space (s = 1500 kPa)
306 CUI AND DELAGE

In Figs 22±25 the plastic strain increment
vectors identi®ed from the different stress paths
are shown, together with the yield curves, for the
four values of suction. In no case is the normality
condition satis®ed. The observation deduced from
Fig. 20 (i.e. dåpv /dåps = 1/ç at yield) seems valid for
either radial or constant ó3 paths, since all vectors
are approximately radial. However, this is demon-
strated only for higher values of ç, and must be
checked further for lower values. Also, the
observed anomalies at low stress levels need
further checking.
In the case of Figs 22 and 23 (s = 200 and
400 kPa), a stress hardening effect is observed due
to the initial application of con®ning pressures
(400 and 600 kPa) which are larger than the
isotropic yield stress values (close to 300 kPa).
The points at the con®ning pressure values on the
p-axis also belong to the yield curves, which have
been extrapolated in the low ç zone. In this case,
the plastic strain vectors seem to be no longer in a
radial direction, unlike those situated on the initial
yield curves, before any stress hardening. As
shown in Fig. 21, the dåpv /dåps ratio is decreasing
after yield, involving a further development of
dilatant behaviour with stress hardening, illustrated
by a counterclockwise rotation of the plastic strain
increment vector as observed in Figs 22 and 23.

1000 1000

800 800
Deviator stress q: kPa

Deviator stress q: kPa

K0w K0w

600 600

400 400

200 200

0 0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 0 200 400 600 800 1000
Mean stress p: kPa Mean stress p: kPa

Fig. 22. Yield curve at s = 200 kPa and plastic strain Fig. 24. Yield curve at s = 800 kPa and plastic strain
increment directions increment directions

1000 1000

800 800
K0w
Deviator stress q: kPa
Deviator stress q: kPa

K0w

600 600

400 400

200 200

0 0

0 200 400 600 800 1000 0 200 400 600 800 1000
Mean stress p: kPa Mean stress p: kPa

Fig. 23. Yield curve at s = 400 kPa and plastic strain Fig. 25. Yield curve at s = 1500 kPa and plastic strain
increment directions increment directions
 YIELDING OF UNSATURATED COMPACTED SILT
In this respect, an important point concerns the
respective mobilization of the yield curve either by
stress or by suction hardening, because this
conditions the plastic ¯ow. As seen above, the
initial yield curves are de®ned by the compaction
process and the application of suction. When one
of these curves is reached for the ®rst time
following a given stress path, the plastic ¯ow
direction appears approximately radial, whatever
the suction value. In contrast, if the yield curve is
displaced by stress hardening this radial condition
no longer holds.
DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELASTO-PLASTIC MODEL
The aim of the present section is to propose a
model for the behaviour of the Jossigny compacted
silt within the elasto-plastic framework of the LC
model, taking account of the various detailed
experimental observations in the present study.
These details mainly concern the exact shape of
the yield curves of compacted soils at a constant
suction, their change with increasing suction
(suction hardening), and the exact nature of the
non-associated plastic ¯ow rule.
Parameters of the LC model
As far as volumetric behaviour under isotropic
loading is concerned, our experimental results have
shown that the standard LC model of Alonso et al.
(1990) is adequate. In the LC model, the ë(s)
parameter is expressed as a function of ë(0), and
of two parameters â and r, according to
ë(s) ˆ ë(0)[(1 ÿ r) exp ( ÿ âs) ‡ r]
Three isotropic compression tests are necessary
for determining ë(0), â and r. Since no zero
suction isotropic compression test has been per-
formed, ë(0) is determined indirectly. The tests at
s = 200, 400 and 800 kPa have been chosen, and a
good correspondence has been observed for the
calculated ë(1500) value. Numerical values are
ë(0) = 0´203, â = 0´003 kPaÿ1 , r = 0´45.
p0 (s) is the yield point under an isotropic
loading at suction s. Its variation with suction is
demonstrated experimentally in Fig. 6 and Table 3,
and subsequently plotted to form the LC curve of
Fig. 7. The de®nition of the LC curve depends on
two parameters p0 (0) and pc , which are respec-
tively the yield pressure at zero suction (de®ning
the current location of the yield curve) and a
reference stress (a soil constant). The LC equa-
tion is
[ë(0)ÿk]=ë(s)ÿk]
p0 (s)=pc ˆ (p0 (0)=pc )
For these two values, tests at s = 200 and
307
800 kPa have been used, giving p0 (0) = 240 kPa,
pc = 155 kPa. The corresponding LC curve is
plotted and compared with experimental data in
Fig. 7.
A value of k = 0´012 is taken, according to
results in Fig. 6. The shear modulus G is deduced
from
dås e ˆ dq=3G (3)
According to the triaxial shear tests results,
G values lie between 15 and 20 MPa. For
simplicity, the variations of G with suction are not
considered here, and a constant value of 17 MPa is
used.
Yield curve
A simple method for modelling the yield curve
is to consider, as a ®rst approximation, an ellipse
inclined along the K0 line. This method has been
used for natural soft soils by Leroueil, Magnan &
Tavenas (1985).
The general mathematical expression of an
ellipse inclined at an angle è to the p-axis in a
q±p diagram is
f ˆ b2 (p cos è ‡ q sin è ÿ c)2
‡ a2 ( ÿ p sin è ‡ q cos è)2 ÿ a2 b2 ˆ 0 (4)
It requires four parameters a, b, c and è, where a
and b are the major and minor axis of the ellipse
respectively and c and è de®ne its position and
inclination. Within the framework considered, a
different set of parameters is used as shown in
Fig. 26. The chosen parameters are p0 (s), pk (s),
(1)
q
K0w
θ
ps P0(s) pk p
(2)
Fig. 26. Elliptical yield curve model
308 CUI AND DELAGE

ps (s) and è: p0 (s) is de®ned above; the other preconsolidation effects are the most important.
parameters are de®ned as follows. These points show the need for further research on
analytical expressions for the yield curves, since
(a) pk (s) is the projection on the p-axis of the
obviously the ellipse is not the ideal geometrical
intersection between the K0 line and the
shape to ®t with the present experimental data.
ellipse. Experimental results in Fig. 18 show
that the ratio pk / p0 is approximately suction-
independent, leading to
Flow rule
pk ˆ M k p0 , 1
8 < M k < 2
1 (5) According to experimental results in Fig. 21, the
Nova±Wood relation for sand, introducing para-
Although the results in Fig. 18 are for suction meters m and çr
hardening, equation (5) agrees well with
experimental observations on the strain hard- dåps ì
ˆ (10)
ening of natural soft clays obtained by various dåpv çr ÿ ç
authors.
(b) ps (s) is the other intersection between the 1000
ellipse and the p-axis, for p , 0. Its experi-
mental determination is dif®cult and requires
some extension tests. In the LC model, a linear 800
variation with suction ( ps = ks) is assumed,
which seems reasonably consistent with the
s = 1500 kPa
s = 800 kPa
linear variation of the cohesion with suction
q: kPa

600
that can be deduced from triaxial tests (Cui, s = 400 kPa
1993). These results suggest k = 0´013. s = 200 kPa

(c) è is the inclination angle of the ellipse with 400

the p-axis.
The relations between the two sets of parameters 200
are as follows
2p0 pk cos2 è ‡ [(p0 =ps ) ÿ 1]pk 2
aˆ (6) 0
2p0 cos3 è ‡ 2[(p0 =ps ) ÿ 1]pk cos è
−200
[(p0 =ps ) ÿ 1]pk 2 0 200 400 600 800 1000
cˆ (7) −200
2p0 cos3 è ‡ 2[(p0 =ps ) ÿ 1]pk cos è p: kPa
(a)
ctgè[p0 ps sin 2è ‡ c sin è(p0 ÿ ps )]
b2 ˆ (8)
2c ÿ (p0 ÿ ps ) cos è 1000

p0 , ps and pk depend on the suction, whereas è is a

constant that can easily be related to K0 by 800

3(1 ÿ K 0 ) s = 1500 kPa

tan è ˆ (9)
1 ‡ 2K 0 600
s = 800 kPa
q: kPa

As mentioned above, K0 = 0´45 according to Beros s = 400 kPa

(1990). s = 200 kPa
Comparisons between theoretical and experi- 400
mental yield curves show that it was dif®cult to
obtain a satisfactory ®t at all suctions, mainly
because the Mk parameter is not completely 200
suction-independent. Fig. 27 shows experimental
and theoretical yield curves for two values of Mk
(1´85 and 2´1). The yield curves at s = 1500 kPa 0

are the least satisfactory, since points at ó3 greater

than 200 kPa and at ç = 1 are located well above −200 0 200 400 600 800 1000
−200
the ellipses. The ®rst value of Mk gives satisfac- p: kPa
tory results for s = 200±800 kPa, whereas the (b)
second value is better for s = 400±1500 kPa.
Another problem concerns the yield points at Fig. 27. Theoretical yield curves and experimental
lower con®ning stresses (mainly 50 kPa), for which yield points: (a) for Mk = 1´85; (b) for Mk = 2´1
 YIELDING OF UNSATURATED COMPACTED SILT 309
is satisfactory for compacted soils. (21/m) is the 1000
slope of the linear relation between dåpv /dåps and ç s = 800 kPa
(Fig. 21), which is suction-independent. The value
of m deduced from the present results is 0´75. 800

çr is the value of ç when dåpv /dåps = 0. s = 400 kPa

Deviator stress q: kPa

Theoretically, this corresponds to the critical state. 600
In the case of the ó3 = 200 kPa tests of Figs 10
and 21(a), this state is reached for s = 400 and
800 kPa. Figs 13 and 21(b) (all tests at s = 1500 400
kPa) show the various trends observed. For lower
con®ning stresses (50 and 100 kPa), where the
behaviour is similar to that of overconsolidated 200
soils, a dilating phase has been observed, followed
by a peak and the formation of a shearing plane.
0
In this case çr corresponds to the transition from
contractant to dilatant behaviour. For ó3 = 400 kPa, 0 5 10 15
where constant increasing deviatoric stress and
decreasing volumetric change were observed up to 0.00
a 15% strain, dåpv /dåps = 0 was never attained.
Strictly speaking, çr is not a new parameter.
0.50
Since yielding, de®ned by a p0 (s) value given by a
volumetric criterion, corresponds to the intersection
between the two straight-line segments, çr can be
Volumetric strain: %

1.00
geometrically derived if the value of m is known.
çr is suction- and stress-dependent, as seen in Fig. 1.50
21. Equation (10) also shows that the plastic
potential is hyperbolic.
2.00 s = 800 kPa

Numerical simulation 2.50

Two shear tests under ó3 = 200 kPa, s = 400 and
800 kPa were simulated. The comparison is shown
in Fig. 28. The good correspondence of volume
change curves is related to the choice of an
adequate plastic potential. Yielding is very sudden
on the predicted deviator stress±axial strain curves.
This is typical of any single yield surface isotropic
hardening model that predicts sudden yield of
overconsolidated soils, as opposed to normally
consolidated soils, where plasticity is involved
from the beginning of the test and where no
angular point is observed (Potts, 1985). Further
re®nement is necessary here in order to provide a
smoother transition at yield, considering for
instance generalized elasto-plastic models. The
effect of the suction is correctly reproduced.
CONCLUSION
The experimental programme run with the
osmotically controlled triaxial apparatus provided
some new information on the behaviour of unsat-
urated compacted soils. The following conclusions
are drawn.
As far as volume changes are concerned, the
main features of the LC model have been
con®rmed: the ë(s) parameter decreases with
increasing suction, and the preconsolidation effect
due to suction is con®rmed, with an increase of
s = 400 kPa
3.00
0 5 10 15
Axial strain: %
Fig. 28. Theoretical and experimental stress±strain
curves (ó3 = 200 kPa, s = 400 and 800 kPa)
the p0 (s) parameter with increasing suction. This
allows a proper determination of the LC curve.
From a practical point of view, the limitations of
oedometer-type step loading for unsaturated soils
have been experimentally demonstrated.
Suctions larger than the initial as-compacted
suction give rise to expansions of the yield curves
in the q±p space, corresponding to suction hard-
ening. As for natural soft soils, the shape of the
yield curves is nearly elliptical and inclined about
the K0w line. This is related to the anisotropic state
of stress applied during the compaction process.
Yield is less apparent than for natural soft soils,
due to effects of higher density and less micro-
structure. However, some bilinear extrapolation
techniques for the identi®cation of yielding appear
satisfactory for isotropic loading and constant ó3
tests. For constant ç tests, changes of the direction
of the plastic strain increment can be used to
identify yielding. Some strain hardening effects
were also demonstrated. These yield curves have
310 CUI AND DELAGE
been modelled with inclined ellipses, whose size
increases with suction according to the proposed
LC suction hardening formulation.
Study of the plastic ¯ow has clearly demon-
strated that the ¯ow rule is non-associated. When
only suction hardening has extended the yield
curve, the direction of the plastic strain increment
is approximately radial. When hardening has
occurred by the application of net stress, this no
longer holds, due to dilatancy effects. A hyperbolic
formulation of the ¯ow rule, similar to that
deduced from sand behaviour, appears satisfactory
for predicting volume changes during shear.
An improved prediction of stress±strain curves
requires a generalized elasto-plastic model that can
reproduce a gradual transition at yield between
elastic and plastic behaviour. Further interesting
aspects of the induced anisotropy remain to be
elucidated.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Part of this research was supported by the
GRECO GeÂomateÂriaux (CNRS). The authors are
grateful to Professors E. Alonso, A. Gens and A.
Josa (Universitat PoliteÁcnica de Catalunya, Barce-
lona) and to Dr S. Wheeler (University of
Glasgow) for helpful discussions.
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