Load-rate effect and creep deformation of clay with low water content

Resultsof one dimensional compression tests of wet,air-dried and oven-dried Fujinomori clay were presented in this paper.Water content of wet,airdried and oven-dried clay specimen was smaller than 15%,4.5% and 1% respectively.In all tests,axial strain rate was changed stepwise many times and drained creep tests were performed several times during monotonic loading at a constant strain rate.Global unloading-reloading was applied,during which creep loading tests were performed several times.Test results show that: All specimens of Fujinomori clay with low water content show noticeable load-rate effect and creep deformation;During global unloading,creep deformation changes from positive to negative continuously,i.e.the neutral point(zero creep deformation or no creep deformation point) exists in global unloading part of strain-stress curve;load-rate effect of Fujinomori clay with higher water content are more significant than that with low water content.