Shear Characteristics of Soil—Concrete Structure Interaction Interfaces
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
1. Figures are not clear. Figures with larger resolution should be provided.
2. How was the direct shear tests performed on the soil-structure? Maybe some pictures should be provided.
3. How can the results presented in this paper be applied to the study on pile-soil interaction? Authors should clarify this.
Author Response
"Please see the attachment."
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The study investigates the shear characteristics of the soil-concrete interface. The topic is interesting and significant for geotechnical engineering. The scientific problem and hypothesis are not clearly defined, and the results are not placed in the context of previous research.
Some of the results are misinterpreted (lines 117-121). The materials used (soil and concrete) are described in insufficient detail.
The figures are not legible enough due to the small font size.
Presented conclusions are trivial and known.
I suggest that the manuscript can be published after major revision, but only if the authors prove new findings in contrast to the existing research.
Comments:
- please describe properties of the concrete used in tests and add figures
- lines 117-119: "The shear stresses of all the specimens first increased with the increase in the shear 117 displacement, and when the shear displacement reached a critical value, the shear stress 118 stabilized." - this statement is incorrect, e.g., Fig 5d 300 kPa 10% does not show a critical value
- lines 119-121: "Compared 119 with the clayey soil and sandstone, the shear stresses of the silty sand and medium-coarse 120 sand increased at faster speeds, and the critical values were smaller". - according to Fig 6, "the speed" of all soil is similar
- give a better description of the soil samples:
- cohesionless soil: relative density
- cohesive soil: description (CH, CL...), consistency
- add a table with a summary of the results
- references are not numbered
Author Response
"Please see the attachment."
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors corrected the manuscript according to the suggestions, so I think it can be published.
