Mechanical Properties of Soft Soil considering the Influence of Unloading Stress Paths

Table 2

Test plan of unloading/loading stress path.

Stress path	Confining pressure of consolidation σ3c [kPa]	Axial pressure of consolidation σ1c [kPa]	Unloading ratio R
UU0.0	100, 200, 300	189, 377, 566	R = Δσ1/Δσ3 = 0.0, σ3 decreases, while σ1 remains unchanged
UU0.5	100, 200, 300	189, 377, 566	R = Δσ1/Δσ3 = 0.5, σ3 and σ1 decrease
UU1.0	100, 200, 300	189, 377, 566	R = Δσ1/Δσ3 = 1.0, σ3 and σ1 decrease
UU2.0	100, 200, 300	189, 377, 566	R = Δσ1/Δσ3 = 2.0, σ3 and σ1 decrease
UU4.0	100, 200, 300	189, 377, 566	R = Δσ1/Δσ3 = 4.0, σ3 and σ1 decrease
UU∞	100, 200, 300	189, 377, 566	R = Δσ1/Δσ3 = ∞, σ3 remains unchanged, while σ1 decreases
LU∞	100, 200, 300	189, 377, 566	R = Δσ1/Δσ3 = ∞, σ3 remains unchanged, while σ1 increases