Empirical Compressibility Index Equations for Artificial Remolded Clay Mixtures

Abstract

A series of one-dimensional consolidation tests was conducted on reconstituted soil mixtures with different mineral compositions. Test groups were prepared by mixing various proportions of kaolinite, quartz, and montmorillonite in which the initial water contents were equal to the liquid limits of the soils. The focus was on the compression behavior of reconstituted clay mixtures, including the rarely reported triple mixtures, as well as establishing a link between the liquid limit and the clay mineral ratio of the specimens. The intrinsic compression indexes of the soils were highly dependent on the composition of the soils and the initial water contents. New equations were proposed to estimate the compression index based on the clay mineral content, liquid limit, plasticity index, and initial void ratio. A triangular chart was proposed to estimate the compression indexes of reconstituted soils. A simple way to determine the virgin compression lines of reconstituted specimens is described.