Abstract

The plane strain apparatus is an important instrument for studying the strength and deformation characteristics of soil with a specific stress path under plane strain condition and it is indispensable for theoretically studying rock and soil mechanics. After reviewing and summarizing the development history of the plane strain apparatus, we improved the pressure chamber, stress measuring mechanism, loading mechanism, and created a pressure chamber that can simulate a plane strain state. This improvement was based on the true triaxial apparatus with vertical rigidity and flexible loading in two orthogonal horizontal planes developed by the Xi’an University of Technology. We conducted plane strain tests of intact loess and remolded loess under different water contents and consolidation confining pressures. The rationality and reliability of the modification were verified by comparing the stress–strain curves and strength parameters obtained from plane strain and conventional triaxial tests, such that the evolution law of intermediate principal stress and the intermediate principal stress coefficient in the plane strain shear process was preliminarily revealed. Subsequently, the coefficient of intermediate principal stress at failure was found to be between 0.13 and 0.53. Thus, the effective modification of the plane strain apparatus can provide an experimental means for studying the strength and deformation characteristics of soil under plane strain condition.

Issue Section:
Technical Papers
Keywords:
plane strain apparatus, true triaxial apparatus, intermediate principal stress, intermediate principal stress coefficient, strength

References

1.
Fang
 
J. J.
,
Yang
 
X. L.
,
Feng
 
Y. X.
,
Gong
 
J.
, and
Niu
 
H. C.
, “
True Triaxial Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Expansive Soils after Drying and Wetting Cycles
” (in Chinese),
Yanshi Lixue Yu Gongcheng Xuebao
 
40
, no. 
5
(May
2021
):
1043
–
1055
, https://doi.org/10.13722/j.cnki.jrme.2020.0902
2.
He
 
M. C.
,
Li
 
J. Y.
,
Liu
 
D. Q.
,
Ling
 
K.
, and
Ren
 
F. Q.
, “
A Novel True Triaxial Apparatus for Simulating Strain Bursts under High Stress
,”
Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering
 
54
, no. 
2
(February
2021
):
759
–
775
, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-020-02285-y
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
3.
Wang
 
Y.
,
Yu
 
Y. Z.
,
Wu
 
Y. K.
,
Zhang
 
B. Y.
,
Lv
 
H.
, and
Sun
 
X.
, “
Development and Application of a Large-Scale Static and Dynamic True Triaxial Apparatus for Gravel
,”
International Journal of Geomechanics
 
18
, no. 
3
(March
2018
): 04018004, https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001096
4.
Zheng
 
F.
,
Shao
 
S. J.
,
She
 
F. T.
, and
Yuan
 
H.
, “
True Triaxial Shear Tests of Remolded Loess under Different Matrix Suctions
” (in Chinese),
Yantu Lixue
 
41
, no. 
323
(July
2020
):
156
–
162
, https://doi.org/10.16285/j.rsm.2019.1349
5.
Kang
 
X.
,
Cheng
 
Y.
, and
Ge
 
L.
, “
Radial Strain Behavior and Stress State Interpretation of Soil under Direct Simple Shear
,”
Journal of Testing and Evaluation
 
43
, no. 
6
(
2015
):
1594
–
1601
, https://doi.org/10.1520/JTE20140202
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
6.
Kang
 
X.
,
Ge
 
L.
,
Chang
 
K.-T.
, and
Kwok
 
A. O.-L.
, “
Strain-Controlled Cyclic Simple Shear Tests on Sand with Radial Strain Measurements
,”
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
 
28
, no. 
4
(April
2016
): 04015169, https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001458
7.
Pan
 
J. J.
,
Cheng
 
Z. L.
,
Jiang
 
J. W.
,
Zuo
 
Y. Z.
, and
Xu
 
H.
, “
Large-Scale Low-Friction Geotechnical True Tri-axial Apparatus and Its Application
” (in Chinese),
Yantu Gongcheng Xuebao
 
41
, no. 
7
(March
2019
):
1367
–
1373
.
8.
Alshibli
 
K.
,
Godbold
 
D. L.
, and
Hoffman
 
K.
, “
The Louisiana Plane Strain Apparatus for Soil Testing
,”
Geotechnical Testing Journal
 
27
, no. 
4
(
2004
):
337
–
346
, https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ19103
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
9.
Kjellman
 
W.
, “
Report on an Apparatus for Consummate Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of Soils
,” in
First International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering
(
London
:
International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
,
1936
),
16
–
20
.
10.
Jakobson
 
B.
, “
Some Fundamental Properties of Sand
,” in
Fourth International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering
(
London
:
International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
,
1957
),
167
–
171
.
11.
Wood
 
C. C.
, “
Shear Strength and Volume Change Characteristics of Compacted Soil under Conditions of Plane Strain
” (PhD diss.,
University of London
,
1958
).
12.
Green
 
G. E.
, “
Strength and Deformation of Sand Measured in an Independent Stress Control Cell
,” in
Proceedings of the Roscoe Memorial Symposium
(
London
:
G.T. Foulis & Co. Ltd.
,
1971
),
285
–
323
.
13.
Labuz
 
J. F.
,
Vardoulakis
 
I. G.
, and
Drescher
 
A.
.
Plane-strain apparatus
. US Patent 5063785, filed August 7, 1990, and issued November 12,
1991
.
14.
Luo
 
A. Z.
 and
Shao
 
S. J.
, “
Development of a New Horizontal Plane Strain Apparatus
” (in Chinese),
Yantu Lixue
 
36
, no. 
7
(July
2015
):
2117
–
2124
, https://doi.org/10.16285/j.rsm.2015.07.038
15.
Gao
 
X.
,
Wang
 
C.
,
Zhou
 
X. C.
,
Zhao
 
W. B.
, and
Lei
 
G. H.
, “
Experiment of Plane-Strain Ground Consolidation with Drainage Sand Cushion
” (in Chinese),
Journal of Nanjing Tech University
 
39
, no. 
2
(March
2017
):
102
–
106
, https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1671-7627.2017.02.017
16.
Zhang
 
Y.
 and
Shao
 
S. J.
, “
An Analysis of Vertical Loading Deformation and Strength Characteristics of Loess under Plain Strain Condition
” (in Chinese),
Tumu Gongcheng Xuebao
 
49
, no. 
3
(March
2016
):
112
–
121
, https://doi.org/10.15951/j.tmgcxb.2016.03.012
17.
Shao
 
S.
,
Wang
 
Q.
,
Luo
 
A.
, and
Shao
 
S.
, “
True Triaxial Apparatus with Rigid-Flexible-Flexible Boundary and Remolded Loess Testing
,”
Journal of Testing and Evaluation
 
45
, no. 
3
(May
2017
):
808
–
817
, https://doi.org/10.1520/JTE20150177
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
18.
Guo
 
H.
,
Luo
 
Y. S.
, and
Hu
 
L. X.
, “
Loess Creep in Plane Strain Conditions
,”
Xibei Nong-Lin Keji Daxue Xuebao. Ziran Kexue Ban
 
44
, no. 
11
(October
2016
):
209
–
214
, https://doi.org/10.13207/j.cnki.jnwafu.2016.11.030
19.
Zhang
 
L. J.
, “
Study on Plane Strain Tests of Sands
” (PhD diss.,
Dalian University of Technology
, Dalian,
2014
).
20.
Shao
 
L. T.
,
Yan
 
C. C.
, and
Zeng
 
F. T.
, “
Improvements of Loading Chamber of Plane-Strain Apparatus
” (in Chinese),
Yantu Lixue
 
38
, no. 
5
(February
2017
):
1251
–
1266
, https://doi.org/10.16285/j.rsm.2017.05.003
21.
Yao
 
X. L.
,
Zhang
 
M. Y.
,
Xu
 
G. F.
, and
Yu
 
F.
, “
Development of a Novel Plane Strain Test Apparatus for Frozen Soils
” (in Chinese),
Cold Regions Science and Technology
 
155
(
2018
):
252
–
262
, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2018.08.012
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
22.
Shao
 
S. J.
,
Luo
 
A. Z.
,
Deng
 
G. H.
, and
Pan
 
D. Y.
, “
Development of a New True Tri-axial Apparatus
” (in Chinese),
Yantu Gongcheng Xuebao
 
31
, no. 
8
(August
2009
):
1172
–
1179
, https://doi.org/10.3321/j.issn:1000-4548.2009.08.004
23.
Shao
 
S. J.
,
Xu
 
P.
,
Shao
 
S.
, and
Chen
 
F.
, “
Improvement and Strength Testing of True Tri-axial Apparatus with One Chamber and Four Cells and Rigid-Flexible-Flexible Loading Boundary Mechanism: True Triaxial Apparatus Developed in Xi’an University of Technology
” (in Chinese),
Yantu Gongcheng Xuebao
 
39
, no. 
9
(September
2017
):
1575
–
1582
, https://doi.org/10.11779/CJGE201709004
24.
Zheng
 
F.
,
Shao
 
S. J.
,
Wang
 
Y. X.
, and
Shao
 
S.
, “
A New Suction-Controlled True Triaxial Apparatus for Unsaturated Soil Testing
,”
Geotechnical Testing Journal
 
44
, no. 
4
(July/August
2021
):
833
–
850
, https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20190015
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
25.
Zheng
 
F.
,
Shao
 
S. J.
, and
Wang
 
S. H.
, “
Effect of Freeze-Thaw Cycles on The Strength Behaviour of Recompacted Loess in True Triaxial Tests
,”
Cold Regions Science and Technology
 
181
(January
2021
): 103172, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2020.103172
26.
Zheng
 
F.
,
Shao
 
S. J.
,
Wang
 
J.
, and
Shao
 
S.
, “
Experimental Study on the Mechanical Behaviour of Natural Loess Based on Suction-Controlled True Triaxial Tests
,”
KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering
 
24
, no. 
8
(August
2020
):
2304
–
2321
, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-020-1386-2
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
27.
Shao
 
S.-J.
,
Chen
 
F.
, and
Shao
 
S.
, “
Shear Band Formation and Strength of Loess in True Triaxial Tests
,”
Journal of Testing and Evaluation
 
47
, no. 
4
(July/August
2019
):
3003
–
3016
, https://doi.org/10.1520/JTE20160506
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
28.
Shao
 
S.
,
Shao
 
S.-J.
, and
Wang
 
Q.
, “
Strength Criteria Based on Shear Failure Planes and Test Verification on Loess
,”
Geotechnical Testing Journal
 
42
, no. 
2
(
2019
):
347
–
364
, https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20170204
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
This content is only available via PDF.
All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or copied, in whole or part, in any printed, mechanical, electronic, film, or other distribution and storage media, without the written consent of ASTM International.
You do not currently have access to this content.