A stress path model for collapsible loess

Abstract

Stress paths were determined for loess in situ at two sites, from overburden pressures and from lateral stresses measured with the Ko Stepped Blade. Ko is as low as 0.1 to 0.3, compared with 0.4 to 0.5 for a normally consolidated silt soil. The Ko values are consistent with compression of a laterally confined solid having a low Poisson's ratio. -from Author