This study investigates the impact of varying stress and wetting conditions on the engineering properties of clay and sand mixtures, specifically focusing on how these factors influence soil strength. Two mixtures composed of 70% clay and 30% sand (70C30S), and 70% sand and 30% clay (70S30C), were prepared at their respective optimum water content (OWC) values. The samples were subjected to different durations under sustained vertical loads to simulate stress history, followed by direct shear and unconfined compressive strength tests. The results show that when the water content exceeded the OWC, the unconfined compressive strength of the 70S30C mixture decreased by up to 42%, while that of the 70C30S mixture decreased by c. 58%. The internal friction angle dropped by 6° to 11° under similar conditions. Cohesion increased with water content up to the OWC, but then decreased by as much as 35% beyond that level. Stress history also played a significant role; prolonged loading resulted in strength changes of up to 25% depending on the mixture type. These findings highlight the importance of both the water content and past stress conditions in determining soil behaviour, and offer valuable insights for geotechnical engineering applications, particularly in environments subject to moisture and load variations.
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Research Article|
June 11, 2025
An evaluation on the effect of stress and wetting conditions on engineering properties of clay–sand mixtures Available to Purchase
İnan Keskin;
İnan Keskin
*
1
Civil Engineering Department
, Faculty of Engineering
, Karabük University
, 78050 Karabük, Turkey
*
Correspondence: [email protected]
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Eylem Özge Atayşen;
Eylem Özge Atayşen
1
Civil Engineering Department
, Faculty of Engineering
, Karabük University
, 78050 Karabük, Turkey
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Selman Kahraman;
Selman Kahraman
1
Civil Engineering Department
, Faculty of Engineering
, Karabük University
, 78050 Karabük, Turkey
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Amir Hossein Vakili;
Amir Hossein Vakili
2
Department of Civil Engineering
, Faculty of Engineering
, Zand Institute of Higher Education
, Shiraz, Iran
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Mahdi Salimi
Mahdi Salimi
3
Department of Civil Engineering
, Faculty of Engineering
, University of Guilan
, Rasht, Iran
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İnan Keskin
*
1
Civil Engineering Department
, Faculty of Engineering
, Karabük University
, 78050 Karabük, Turkey
Eylem Özge Atayşen
1
Civil Engineering Department
, Faculty of Engineering
, Karabük University
, 78050 Karabük, Turkey
Selman Kahraman
1
Civil Engineering Department
, Faculty of Engineering
, Karabük University
, 78050 Karabük, Turkey
Amir Hossein Vakili
2
Department of Civil Engineering
, Faculty of Engineering
, Zand Institute of Higher Education
, Shiraz, Iran
Mahdi Salimi
3
Department of Civil Engineering
, Faculty of Engineering
, University of Guilan
, Rasht, Iran
*
Correspondence: [email protected]
Publisher: Geological Society of London
Received:
09 Jan 2025
Revision Received:
09 Apr 2025
Accepted:
29 Apr 2025
First Online:
22 May 2025
Online ISSN: 2041-4803
Print ISSN: 1470-9236
Funding
- Funder(s):Karabük Üniversitesi
- Award Id(s): KBÜ-BAP-14/1-DS-031
- Award Id(s):
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by The Geological Society of London. All rights, including for text and data mining (TDM), artificial intelligence (AI) training, and similar technologies, are reserved. For permissions: https://www.lyellcollection.org/publishing-hub/permissions-policy. Publishing disclaimer: https://www.lyellcollection.org/publishing-hub/publishing-ethics
© 2025 The Author(s)
Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology (2025) 58 (3): qjegh2025-008.
Article history
Received:
09 Jan 2025
Revision Received:
09 Apr 2025
Accepted:
29 Apr 2025
First Online:
22 May 2025
Funding
This study's financial support was provided by Karabük University Scientific Research Projects (KBÜ-BAP) (grant No. FYL-2019-2118 awarded to İ. Keskin).
Citation
İnan Keskin, Eylem Özge Atayşen, Selman Kahraman, Amir Hossein Vakili, Mahdi Salimi; An evaluation on the effect of stress and wetting conditions on engineering properties of clay–sand mixtures. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 2025;; 58 (3): qjegh2025–008. doi: https://doi.org/10.1144/qjegh2025-008
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