Effective Stress Theory of Shrinkage Phenomena

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Abstract
Shrinkage is one of the important soil phenomena in which an engineer is interested. The various factors affecting shrinkage phenomena are discussed. The investigation deals with theoretical and experimental studies of the physical mechanism involved in the process of shrinkage of a clay soil. A modified effective stress concept has been made use of for a satisfactory explanation of the phenomena. The relative importance of dielectric constant (in effecting the electrical attractive and repulsive forces) and the surface tension on the shrinkage of a clay has been brought out, using various organic solvents as pore fluids. Kaolinite has been used in the experimental investigation which includes conventional shrinkage limit tests, tests on samples consolidated to 1 ton/ft2 (1.093 kg/cm2) with different fabric as well as the same initial fabric, tests on samples consolidated to different pressures, and finally tests on samples with constant external applied pressure. The experimental results reveal that the modified effective stress concept proposed governs the shrinkage phenomena. Though surface tension is believed to be the cause of shrinkage, it has been shown that the void ratio at the shrinkage limit is governed by the contact stress at particle contact and (or) between particles, as defined by the modified effective stress concept. The role of fabric and externally applied load on shrinkage is discussed.

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