The 'failure envelope' for normally consolidated clay passes through:
Choose the correct answer
Origin with c > 0 (significant cohesion)
Origin (c=0 in effective stress terms for NC clay); τf = σ'tanφ'
Very high c and zero φ
Negative cohesion for NC clay
Correct Answer
B. Origin (c=0 in effective stress terms for NC clay); τf = σ'tanφ'
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NC clay: failure envelope (Mohr-Coulomb): passes through origin (c=0 in terms of effective stress) with slope tanφ'. In total stress analysis (undrained): τf = Su (horizontal line, φu=0). NC clay has c=0 because it has no pre-consolidation stress history. Overconsolidated clay: effective envelope has c'>0 and φ' (apparent cohesion from memory of pre-consolidation).
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