Observations on laboratory prepared, lightly overconsolidated specimens of kaolin

Specimens of kaolin have been prepared in the laboratory by consolidating from a slurry, both isotropically and anisotropically, to a lightly overconsolidated state within an overconsolidation range of l·0–2·7. Each specimen was then tested in either undrained triaxial compression or extension. This has enabled a study to be made of the influence of preconsolidation pressure and anisotropy on the strength and stress-strain characteristics of lightly overconsolidated kaolin. These results are relevant to the general stress-strain studies being pursued at Cambridge on idealized soils and, to some extent, to the behaviour of soft clay deposits in the field. On a prepare au laboratoire des echantillons de kaolin en les consolidant a partir de boues, de maniere isotrope et anisotrope, en un etat legtrement surconsolide ayant un domaine de surconsolidation allant de 1 a 2·7. On a etudie chaque echantillon en compression ou traction triaxiale a teneur en eau constante. Ceci a permis d'etudier l'influence de la p...