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Geomechanics and Engineering
  Volume 25, Number 4, May25 2021 , pages 275-282
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2021.25.4.275
 


Microstructural observations of shear zones at cohesive soil-steel interfaces under large shear displacements
Belgacem Mamen and Farid Hammoud

 
Abstract
    Failure mechanism which can affect geotechnical infrastructures (shallow foundations, retaining walls, and piles) constitutes one of the most encountered problems during the design process. In this respect, the shear behavior of interfaces between grained soils and solid building materials, as well as those between cohesive soils should be investigated. Therefore, a range of ring shear tests with different cohesive soils and stainless-steel interfaces have been carried out through the Bromhead apparatus that allows simulating large displacements along a failure surface. The effects of steel rings roughness and soil type on the residual friction coefficient and the shear zone features (structure, thickness, and texture orientation angle) have been investigated using the Scanning Electron Microscopy. The obtained results indicate that the residual friction coefficient and the structural characteristics of the shear zone vary according to the surface roughness and the soil type. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the particles inside the shear zone tend to be re-oriented. Also, the shear failure mechanism can be identified along with the interface, within the soil, or simultaneously at the interface and within the soil specimen.
 
Key Words
    failure mechanism; Bromhead apparatus; large displacements; cohesive soils; shear zone features; surface roughness
 
Address
Belgacem Mamen: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Abbés Laghrour of Khenchela, Algeria

Farid Hammoud: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University Mustapha Ben Boulaid of Batna, Algeria
 

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