Analysis of Clay Deformation as a Rate Process

The deformation of clays under shear stress is considered to be the result of slip at the particle contacts. The theory is based on the hypothesis that slip occurs first at the contacts with weak bonds, after which the stress is transferred to contacts with strong bonds capable of resisting the load imposed on them. The slip at the particle contacts is assumed to obey the rate process theory. The behavior of the rheological model is found to agree with the results of creep and stress relaxation experiments. The rheological parameters calculated from the experimental data are used to interpret the mechanism of clay deformation.