Functional analysis of the constitutive role of temperature in compacted bentonites

A thermodynamically consistent expression is derived for the functional structure of effective stress understood as the work conjugate of elastic strain. The study, focussed on compacted clays, is valid for both non-isothermal conditions and constant temperature. As a result, it is found that there is no evidence to assume a direct dependence of the effective stress on temperature. Therefore, it is consistent to follow the usually employed strategies based on evaluating the implicit dependence through air pressure, macrostructural liquid pressure and macrostructural degree of saturation. • The functional structure of effective stress in compacted clays is derived. • The structure is valid for both non-isothermal and isothermal conditions. • Therefore, there is no direct dependence between effective stress and temperature.