Test on cyclic creep behavior of mucky clay in Shanghai under step cyclic loading

Based on the cyclic triaxial test under step loading, the variation of cyclic creep and pore water pressure with increase in cyclic stress ratio (CSR) and load cycle of mucky clay in Shanghai were analyzed. The results show that there are two threshold values of stability cyclic stress ratio and failure cyclic stress ratio during the step loading which divide the development of cyclic creep strain into gradual stability stage, rapid growth stage and instantaneous failure stage. When the stress level is less than the failure cyclic stress ratio, the recoverable elastic strain is nearly linear with CSR. The cyclic creep properties of mucky clay are obviously influenced by the loading frequency under the same stress level.