It is improved that there is staged characteristics of lateral pressure coefficient K0 of soft clay. When the test load P is less than sample’s remaining structure strength
the value of is small
and when
the value of K0 is increased. It’s the reflection of the staged characteristics of soft clay’s mechanical property. When
the structure of soil sample is undamaged
the sample is similar to a rigid material
the value is small; When
soils microstructure is damaged
the sample is changed to be elastoplastic material
the value is increased. In geotechnical practices
the sample is disturbed during drilling and sampling
the microstructure of under-consolidated or normal-consolidated soft clay is destroyed