Monotonic, Cyclic, and Post-Cyclic Responses of an Alluvial Plastic Silt Deposit

This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the monotonic, cyclic, and postcyclic response of a medium stiff, plastic, lightly-overconsolidated, alluvial clayey silt deposit. The laboratory investigation is performed on natural, intact, and reconstituted specimens derived from high-quality samples to establish the role of the stress history and soil fabric on cyclic resistance, excess pore pressure generation, and postcyclic behavior. The results of cone penetration tests (CPTs), vane shear tests (VSTs), and downhole and crosshole geophysical tests are used to compare the monotonic, stress-controlled direct simple shear (DSS) test data and interpret differences in the cyclic response of natural and reconstituted specimens.