COMPRESSION OF COLLAPSED LOESS - STUDIES ON BONDED AND UNBONDED SOILS

Compression of bonded (collapsible) and debonded (collapsed) loess is studied in the laboratory using reconstituted samples of Sedlec loess. Oedometric and hydrostatic (triaxial) compression cur-ves yield ident ical compression indices. Intrinsic (ICL) and semilogarithmic (LCL) co mpression lines are favourably compared with the test results of recon stituted samples. Owing to the aging of reconstituted samples, the bon ded structure that develops seems to be qualitatively identical to tha t of natural collapsible loess. In the course of loading, both natural and aged samples undergo gradual destruction of the structural bonds. The only difference is in the initial porosity, which in the case of natural samples is much higher (these are metastable). Reconstituted s amples, even if aged, and consequently bonded, cannot, therefore, be c ollapsible.