| A series of resonant column and bender element tests were conducted on several specimens of low and high-plasticity clays from North Arlington, Texas. Test results were used to conduct a comparative study on measurements of small-strain shear modulus (Gmax) and material damping (Dmin) of clayey soils using resonant column (RC) and bender element (BE) testing techniques for a given range of environmental factors, including moisture content, matric suction, isotropic confinement, and over-consolidation ratio (OCR).; High plasticity clay used in this work is a locally available clayey soil sampled from North Collins road, Arlington, Texas. Low plasticity clay is composed of 50% silt and 50% clay. The silty soil selected in this study was sampled from North Arlington, Texas. Small-strain dynamic properties of low and high plasticity clays were investigated and results from both resonant column (RC) and bender element (BE) testing techniques were compared. An attempt is also made to establish empirical correlations for Gmax and D min, of low and high-plasticity clays as function of matric suction (Psim) via soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC). SWCC for low and high-plasticity clays were obtained via pressure plate extractor testing technique. |
