Synopsis
The shear strength parameters of plastic concrete were studied with particular reference to the effect of water/cement ratio. ‘Unconsolidated-undrained’ and ‘consolidated-undrained’ triaxial tests were performed, pore-water pressures were measured, and shear strength parameters have been determined in terms of both total and effective stresses. The shear strength parameters of the material, when tested in the unconsolidated-undrained state, decreased linearly with increase in water/cement ratio. On the other hand, the parameters appear to be independent of water/cement ratio when the material is tested in the consolidated-undrained condition, except for the maximum induced pore pressure, which varies directly with both the water/cement ratio and the ambient pressure. The second result suggests the existence of a close relationship between the initial water/cement ratio and the amount of mobile water that can be expelled from the mix at any given ambient pressure.
