Experimental study on dynamic mechanical properties of clay under different water contents and compaction degrees

Abstract The effects of water content, compaction, and strain rate on the dynamic mechanics of clay soils are key issues in underground blasting excavation. Dynamic compressive stress-strain curves of clay with the interaction of water content, strain rate and compaction were obtained using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The results showed that the kinetic properties (uniaxial compressive strength and DIF) of clay with high water content were more sensitive to the strain rate, and increasing the water content weakened the uniaxial compressive strength of clay, while increasing the compaction usually increased the uniaxial compressive strength of clay. SAE increases exponentially with increasing strain rate, and water content variation has a greater effect on SAE than compaction. Based on the measured test data, the empirical equations between the dimensionless lateral limit uniaxial compressive strength and the strain rate, water content and compaction were obtained by the dimensional analysis.