Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.12989/gae.2020.23.4.301

Effect of grain size on the shear strength of unsaturated silty soils  

Onturk, Kurban (Institute of Natural Sciences, Sakarya University)
Bol, Ertan (Department of Civil Engineering, Sakarya University)
Ozocak, Askin (Department of Civil Engineering, Sakarya University)
Edil, Tuncer B. (Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Publication Information
Geomechanics and Engineering / v.23, no.4, 2020 , pp. 301-311 More about this Journal
Abstract
In this study, shear strength behavior of fine-grained soils was investigated under unsaturated conditions. The samples in the unsaturated state were subjected to a net normal stress (σ-ua) of 40 kPa and different matric suctions (ua-uw) of 50, 100 and 150 kPa. The matric suction values applied in the triaxial tests were selected according to the bubbling pressures determined from the SWC curves. The study was carried out on prepared re-constituted cylindrical samples by uniaxial consolidation of soil slurries. First, consolidated drained (CD) triaxial compression tests were performed on the saturated samples and the cohesion and angle of internal friction were determined. After that, drained triaxial compression tests under matric suctions were performed on the unsaturated samples. In order to obtain unsaturated test results, cohesion and internal friction angle values of saturated samples were used. The nonlinear surface representing the shear strength surface was approximated consisting of two planes (double planar surface). The reason for the nonlinear behavior of some soils is that the amount of sand content contained in it is relatively high and the bubbling pressure/permanent water content value is relatively low.
Keywords
unsaturated soil; shear strength; soil behavior; suction; failure;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 4  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Hyde, A.F.L. and Ward, S.J. (1985), "A pore pressure and stability model for a silty clay under repeated loading", Geotechnique, 35(2), 113-125. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1985.35.2.113.   DOI
2 Fredlund, D.G., Rahardjo, H. and Fredlund, M.D. (2012), Unsaturated Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.A.
3 Krizek, R.J., Edil, T.B. and Ozaydin, K.I. (1975), "Preparation and identification of clay samples with controlled fabric", Eng. Geol., 9(1), 13-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7952(75)90025-3.   DOI
4 Lin, H.D., Wang, C.C. and Wang, X.H. (2018), "A simplified method to estimate the total cohesion of unsaturated soil using an UC test", Geomech. Eng., 16(6), 599-608. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2018.16.6.599.   DOI
5 Liu, W., Tang, X. and Yang, Q. (2017), "A slurry consolidation method for reconstitution of triaxial specimens", KSCE J. Civ. Eng., 21(1), 150-159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-016-0199-9.   DOI
6 Nam, S., Gutierrez, M., Diplas, P. and Petrie, J. (2011), "Determination of the shear strength of unsaturated soils using the multistage direct shear test", Eng. Geol., 122(3-4), 272-280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2011.06.003.   DOI
7 Ng, C.W.W. and Menzies, B. (2007), Advanced Unsaturated Soil Mechanics and Engineering, Taylor & Francis, London, U.K.
8 Nuntasarn, R. and Wannakul, W. (2017), "Drained shear strength of compacted khon kaen loess", Int. J. Geomate, 13(35), 28-33. https://doi.org/10.21660/2017.35.6641.
9 Oloo, S.Y., Fredlund, D.G. and Gan, J.K.M. (1997), "Bearing capacity of unpaved roads", Can. Geotech. J., 34(3), 398-407. https://doi.org/10.1139/t96-084.   DOI
10 Ozocak, A. (2003), "Compressibility of unsaturated silty soils", Ph.D. Thesis, Sakarya University, Serdivan, Turkey.
11 Rahardjo, H., Heng, O.B. and Choon, L.E. (2004), "Shear strength of a compacted residual soil from consolidated drained and constant water content triaxial tests", Can. Geotech. J., 41(3), 421-436. https://doi.org/10.1139/t03-093.   DOI
12 Kuerbis, R. and Vaid, Y.P (1988), "Sand sample prepation-the slurry deposition method", Soils Found., 28(4), 107-118. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf1972.28.4_107.   DOI
13 Rasool, A.M. and Aziz, M. (2019), "Shear infiltration and constant water content tests on unsaturated soils", Geomech. Eng., 19(5), 435-445. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2019.19.5.435.   DOI
14 Sawangsuriya, A., Edil, T. and Bosscher, P.J. (2009a), "Modulus-suction-moisture relationship for compacted soils in postcompaction state", J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 135(10), 1390-1403. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000108.   DOI
15 Rassam, D.W. and Cook, F. (2002), "Predicting the shear strength envelope of unsaturated soils", Geotech. Test. J., 25(2), 215-220. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ11365J.   DOI
16 Rassam, D.W. and Williams, D.J. (1999), "A relationship describing the shear strength of unsaturated soils", Can. Geotech. J., 36(2), 421-436. https://doi.org/10.1139/t98-102.
17 Sawangsuriya, A., Edil, T. and Benson, C.H. (2009b), "Effect of suction on resilient modulus of compacted fine-grained subgrade soils", J. Transport. Res. Board, 2101(1), 82-87. https://doi.org/10.3141/2101-10.   DOI
18 Sheeran, D.E. and Krizek, R.J. (1971), "Preparation of homogeneous soil samples by slurry consolidation", J. Mater., 6(2), 356-373.   DOI
19 Tilgen, H.P. (2003), "Relationship suction and shear strength parametres of compacted Metu campus clay", Master Thesis, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.
20 Sun, D., Sheng, D. and Xu, Y. (2007), "Collapse behaviour of unsaturated compacted soil with different initial densities", Can. Geotech. J., 44(6), 673-686. https://doi.org/10.1139/t07-023.   DOI
21 Tripathy, S., Elgabu, H. and Thomas, H.R. (2011), "Matric suction measurement of unsaturated soils with null-type axis-translation technique", Geotech. Test. J., 35(1), 91-102. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ103591.
22 TS 1500 (2000), Classification of Soils for Civil Engineering Purposes, Turkish Standards Institute.
23 Vanapalli, S.K., Fredlund, D.G., Pufahl, D.E. and Clifton, A.W. (1996), "Model for the prediction of shear strength with respect to soil suction", Can. Geotech. J., 33(3), 379-392. https://doi.org/10.1139/t96-060.   DOI
24 ASTM D7181-11 (2011), Standard Test Method for Consolidated Drained Triaxial Compression Test for Soils, ASTM International, U.S.A.
25 ASTM D2487-17 (2017), Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System), ASTM International, U.S.A.
26 ASTM D5298-16 (2016), Standard Test Method for Measurement of Soil Potential (Suction) Using Filter Paper, ASTM International, U.S.A.
27 ASTM D6836-16 (2016), Standard Test Methods for Determination of the Soil Water Characteristic Curve for Desorption Using Hanging Column, Pressure Extractor, Chilled Mirror Hygrometer, or Centrifuge, ASTM International, U.S.A.
28 Bocking, K.A. and Fredlund, D.G. (1980), "Limitations of the axis translations technique", Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Expansive Soils, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., June.
29 Yasuhara, K., Murakami, S., Song, B.W. and Yokokawa, S. (2003), "Postcyclic degradation of strength and stiffness for low plasticity silt", J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 129(8), 756-769. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2003)129:8(756).   DOI
30 Vanapalli, S.K., Nicotera M.V. and Sharma R.S. (2008), "Axis translation and negative water column techniques for suction control", Geotech. Geol. Eng., 26(6), 645-660. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-008-9206-3.   DOI
31 Zhao, H.F., Zhang, L.M. and Fredlund, D.G., (2013), "Bimodal shear-strength behavior of unsaturated coarse-grained soils", J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 139(12), 2070-2081. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000937.   DOI
32 Farouk, A., Lamboj, L. and Kos, J. (2004), "Influence of matric suction on the shear strength behaviour of unsaturated sand", Acta Polytechnica, 44(4).
33 Chen, J. and Hai, Y. (2012), "A ${\Phi}^b$ model for predicting shear strength of unsaturated soils", Adv. Mater. Res., 594, 425-429. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.594-597.425.   DOI
34 Coleman, J.D. (1962), "Correspondence: Stress/strain relations for partly saturated soils", Geotechnique, 12(4), 348-350.   DOI
35 Edil, T.B., Motan, S.E. and Toha, F.X. (1981), Mechanical Behavior and Testing Methods of Unsaturated Soils, in Laboratory Shear Strength of Soil, ASTM STP 740, American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., 114-129.
36 Fattah, M.Y., Yahya, A.S., Al-Hadidi, M.T. and Ahmed, B.A. (2013), "Effect of salt content on total and matric suction of unsaturated soils", Eur. Sci. J., 9(9).
37 Fredlund, D.G. and Morgenstem, N.R. (1977), "Stress state variables for unsaturated soils", J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 3, 447-466. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(77)90962-7.
38 Fredlund, D.G. and Rahardjo H. (1993), Soil Mechanics for Unsaturated Soils, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.A.
39 Fredlund, D.G. and Vanapalli, S.K. (2002), Shear Strength of Unsaturated Soils, in Agronomy Soil Testing Manual, Agronomy Society of America, 329-361.
40 Fredlund, D.G., Morgenstern, N.R. and Widger, R.A. (1978), "Shear strength of unsaturated soils", Can. Geotech. J., 15(3), 313-321. https://doi.org/10.1139/t78-029.   DOI
41 Hamid, T.B. (2005), "Testing and modelling of unsaturated interfaces", Master Thesis, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
42 Fredlund, D.G., Rahardjo, H. and Gan, J.K.M. (1987), "Nonlinearity of strength envelope for unsaturated soils", Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Expansive Soils, New Delhi, India, December.
43 Gan, J.K.M., Fredlund, D.G. and Rahardjo, H. (1988), "Determination of the shear strength parameters of an unsaturated soil using the direct shear test", Can. Geotech. J., 25(3), 500-510. https://doi.org/10.1139/t88-055.   DOI
44 Gupta, S., Ranaivoson, A., Edil, T., Benson, C. and Sawangsuriya, A. (2007), "Pavement design using unsaturated soil technology", Technical Report, MN/RC-2007-11, Department of Soil, Water, & Climate, Minnesota Department of Transportation, St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A.
45 Hamid, T.B. and Miller, G.A. (2009), "Shear strength of unsaturated soil interfaces", Can. Geotech. J., 46(5), 595-606. https://doi.org/10.1139/T09-002.   DOI
46 Handoko, L., Yasufuku, N., Oomine, K. and Hazarika, H., (2013), "Suction controlled triaxial apparatus for saturated-unsaturated soil test", Int. J. Geomate, 4(1), 466-470. https://doi.org/10.21660/2013.7.2147.
47 Ho, D.Y.F. and Fredlund, D.G. (1982), "A multistage triaxial test for unsaturated soils", Geotech. Test. J., 5(1), 18-25. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ10795J.   DOI
48 Zhou, W.H., Zhao, L.S. and Li, X.B. (2014), "A simple analytical solution to one-dimensional consolidation for unsaturated soils", Int. J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech., 38(8), 794-810. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.2231.   DOI
49 Zhao, Z.F. and Zhang, L.M. (2013), "Instability of saturated and unsaturated coarse granular soils", J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 140(1), 25-35. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000976.   DOI
50 Zhou, W.H. and Xu, X. (2015), "Shear strength of unsaturated completely decomposed granite soil under different stress state conditions", Proceedings of the 15th Asian Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Fukuoka, Japan, November.
51 Carraro, J.A.H. and Prezzi, M. (2007), "A new slurry-based method of preparation of specimens of sand containing fines", Geotech. Test. J., 31(1). 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ100207.