Properties of Some Kaolin-Based Model Clay Soils

In the first part of this paper the authors compare the mechanical properties of sedimented kaolin to median trends established from tests on natural clays and argue that artificial soils incorporating a substantial granular fraction reflect more closely the behavior of "destructured" real clays. In the second part the authors report a laboratory investigation of one particular mixture and describe the stress-strain behavior and strength properties observed in a series of K (sub 0) consolidated triaxial tests in which local strain instrumentation was used to better define the stiffness characteristics at small strains.