Will two materials of similar grain size distribution but different gsm or specific gravity have the same shear strength? Especially if the materials are dry & powdered and fall in the range of silt size (< 75 micron) where morphology of the particles may not affect the shear behavior significantly.
Nice question Madam. I think the material having higher specific gravity possesses lower shear strength as compared to the material with lower specific gravity. For the same moisture content and degree of saturation, higher specific gravity leads to higher voids ratio i.e. higher volume of voids in the material. In this condition, the grains of silt size material can easily roll over one another resulting lesser cementation force or, apparent cohesion, hence, lower shear strength.
Hello Aali Pant, As is known on the mechanical properties of materials, there are many factors (density, chemical elements in the material, temperature of study, moisture, etc.). As for the soil with impurities, it will also have an impact on the improvement or worsening of shear forces in subsequent use. In order to give proper assessment and follow-up, it is good to give more information. With respect Emil Yankov
Thank You for your reply Dr. Yankov. I observed a drastic increase in shear strength of dry uncemented silt sized soil than that observed in fly ash with approximately similar particle size distribution. I was hence wondering that since the method of preparation of the test sample is similar for both the materials, the specific gravity of the two may play a role in the stress transfer at the microscopic level as specific gravity of soil is almost 2.7 while that of fly ash is 2.07. The morphology of the two materials is although very different with ash being spherical and soil being angular to sub-angular.
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