Study on the shear strength of deep reconstituted soils

Based on analytical methods of strength studies for deep soils, direct shear tests were carried out to investigate the shear strength of deep reconstituted soils at different initial dry densities and amounts of water. The results indicate that the shear strength of deep reconstituted soils for identical amounts of water below the plastic limit is enhanced with increasing dry density and but reduced sharply at the critical density, the point at which coarse particles break down. Moreover, the shear strength for identical dry density decreases with additional amounts of water and the rate of degradation is the greatest at the critical density. This is because the friction resistance between coarse particles reduces with increasing amounts of water higher than the plastic limit. In order to obtain reliable strength of deep reconstituted soils, suitable dry densities and amounts of water are necessary. © 2009 China University of Mining and Technology.