Behaviour of Clayey Soils during Desiccation: Experimental and Micromechanical Modelling

This thesis provides a comprehensive understanding of the macro-behaviour of clayey soils during desiccation. It also proposes new numerical frameworks capable of providing insights into transition behaviour of clayey soils from slurry state to semi-solid state involving saturated and unsaturated soil conditions, soil curling and soil cracking. The knowledge and numerical frameworks in this thesis can be applied for analysis and design of civil and geotechnical engineering applications involving desiccation.