Experimental Study on Strength Characteristics of Overconsolidated Gassy Clay

Liu, Tao; Zhu, Longfei; Zhang, Yan; Qing, Chengrong; Zhan, Yuanzhe; Zhu, Chaonan; Jia, Jiayang

doi:10.3390/jmse13050904

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Experimental Study on Strength Characteristics of Overconsolidated Gassy Clay

by

Tao Liu

^1,2,

Longfei Zhu

¹,

Yan Zhang

^3,*

,

Chengrong Qing

¹,

Yuanzhe Zhan

¹,

Chaonan Zhu

¹ and

Jiayang Jia

¹

Shandong Engineering Research Center of Marine Exploration and Conservation, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China

²

Laboratory for Marine Geology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China

³

Key Laboratory of Intelligent Underground Detection Technology, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230000, China

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(5), 904; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13050904 (registering DOI)

Submission received: 22 March 2025 / Revised: 27 April 2025 / Accepted: 29 April 2025 / Published: 30 April 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Geological and Geotechnical Hazards)

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Abstract

Gassy clay, commonly encountered in coastal areas as overconsolidated deposits, demonstrates distinct mechanical properties posing risks for submarine geohazards and engineering stability. Consolidated undrained triaxial tests combined with cyclic simple shear tests were performed on specimens with varying overconsolidation ratios (OCRs) and initial pore pressures, supplemented by SEM microstructural analysis. Triaxial results indicate that OCR controls the transitions between shear contraction and dilatancy, which govern both stress–strain responses and excess pore pressure development. Higher OCR with lower initial pore pressure increases stress path slope, raises undrained shear strength (s_u), reduces pore pressure generation, and induces negative pore pressure at elevated OCR. These effects originate from compressed gas bubbles and limited bubble flooding under overconsolidation, intensifying dilatancy during shear. Cyclic tests reveal gassy clay’s superior cyclic strength, slower pore pressure accumulation, reduced stiffness softening, and enhanced deformation resistance relative to saturated soils. Cyclic pore pressure amplitude increases with OCR, while peak cyclic strength and anti-softening capacity occur at OCR = 2, implying gas bubble interactions.

Keywords: overconsolidated gassy clay; consolidation test; triaxial test; cyclic simple shear test; numerical simulation

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MDPI and ACS Style

Liu, T.; Zhu, L.; Zhang, Y.; Qing, C.; Zhan, Y.; Zhu, C.; Jia, J. Experimental Study on Strength Characteristics of Overconsolidated Gassy Clay. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13, 904. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13050904

AMA Style

Liu T, Zhu L, Zhang Y, Qing C, Zhan Y, Zhu C, Jia J. Experimental Study on Strength Characteristics of Overconsolidated Gassy Clay. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 2025; 13(5):904. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13050904

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liu, Tao, Longfei Zhu, Yan Zhang, Chengrong Qing, Yuanzhe Zhan, Chaonan Zhu, and Jiayang Jia. 2025. "Experimental Study on Strength Characteristics of Overconsolidated Gassy Clay" Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 13, no. 5: 904. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13050904

APA Style

Liu, T., Zhu, L., Zhang, Y., Qing, C., Zhan, Y., Zhu, C., & Jia, J. (2025). Experimental Study on Strength Characteristics of Overconsolidated Gassy Clay. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 13(5), 904. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13050904

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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