Deformation and Energy-Dissipation Behavior of Silty Clay under Cyclic Loading

The cumulative deformation and energy-dissipation behavior of soil under cyclic loading is an important basis for geotechnical engineering design. Undrained cyclic triaxial tests were carried out on retrieved and remolded silty clay samples. The effects of soil structure on the dynamic deformation and energy dissipation behavior were studied. The results show that: The dynamic deformation behavior of silty clay is controlled by cyclic stress ratio (CSR), and the threshold CSR for retrieved samples is higher than that of remolded samples. The development modes of double-amplitude strain with loading cycles can be divided into three types: stable, transitional, and failure modes. Similarly, the development of accumulated dissipated energy with double-amplitude strain can be categorized into three types. Under the same double-amplitude strain, the energy dissipation capability of remolded samples is higher that that of retrieved samples. Under the same test conditions, it takes more energy dissipation and loading cycle for retrieved samples to arrive at the same double-amplitude strain than for remolded samples. Soil structure has significant effects on the deformation and energy dissipation behavior of silty clay under cyclic loading.