Work Softening in Soils

08/30/26

“Why do some soils decrease in shear strength after a certain amount of strain?”

Soils can resist shearing forces through soil shear strength. However, the soil’s shear strength can decrease after a point of increased strain as internal structures are rearranged. This Work Softening in Soils can lead to dangerous soil failures if too much strain is reached and the soil collapses with the structure over it.