COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH BEHAVIOR OF FINE-GRAINED FROZEN SOILS

Constant strain-rate (0.01/s) uniaxial compression-strength tests were conducted on more than 200 saturated samples of six fine-grained frozen soils at temperatures between -5 and -17°C. Test results indicate the peak compressive strength of fine-grained soils is sensitive to changes in the dry unit weight and the total water content. The temperature dependence of the peak compressive strength is represented by a simple power law. An empirical formula has been developed to predict the peak compressive strength of fine-grained frozen soils at a particular temperature using index properties, specific surface area, particle-size distribution, and dry unit weight. A linear relationship exists between the peak compressive stress and the yield stress. -from Authors