Publication Date:
1988-05-01
Description:
The geotechnical engineering profession is quite familiar with stiff fissured and jointed clays where discontinuities are found on a macroscopic scale. However, there has not been, until recently, a systematic investigation of the crack propagation phenomena involved in the failures of such clays. This paper presents the first phase of an investigation whose aim is to understand, describe, and quantify the mechanisms involved in crack propagation. The experimental investigation indicates that, in a mode II type of fracture, a well-defined damage zone propagates in front of the crack. In this zone, the structure of the clay is shown to be substantially altered. The damage is quantitatively characterized and a thermodynamic approach to the analysis of crack and damage propagation is suggested. Key words: stiff clay, fracture, crack layer, damage zone, strip densification.
Print ISSN:
0008-3674
Electronic ISSN:
1208-6010
Topics:
Geosciences
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