Compression method for hollow cylinder specimens of saturated remolded clay and its application

Due to the viscosity and easy-cracked characteristics of clay, series problems, such as non-homogeneity, low-saturation and microcracks, exist in the hollow cylinder specimens generally made by using the compaction method and the consolidation method. Based on the traditional compacting instrument, a newly designed specimen presser can be employed to prepare the remolded solid and hollow cylindrical specimens by simulating the forming process of natural soils. According to the improved undercompaction method and the optimal initial undercompaction coefficient obtained by tests, the quality of each layer is controlled strictly with the same height. After being saturated by the pumping saturation method, the reliability of remolded specimens is proved considering the repeatability and mechanical properties when the specimens are used to study the deformation characteristics and the constitutive relation of soils under complex stress paths. All those may provide the assurance of long-term studies on saturated remolded clay.