• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2010

Decomposed granite soil is the most common type of soils. The measurement of the stress-strain-strength behavior of anisotropic decomposed granite soils is very important for the deformation and stability analysis of slopes, retaining walls, excavations. A series of unsaturated-drained triaxial compression tests were performed to know unsaturated strength properties. The sample had three different angles of the axial (major principal) direction to the sedimentation plane (compaction plane): 0, 45 and 90 degrees. The compression strain of specimens subjected to an isotropic compression was strongly influenced by the sedimentation angle. In addition, the time dependence was independent of the sedimentation angle in relation to the deformation behavior during the secondary compression process. The effect of the sedimentation angle on the triaxial compression strength and deformation was clearly shown with low confining stress. The effect of the sedimentation angle on the compressive strength and deformation was more evident in saturated specimens. A new method of predicting the shear strength of unsaturated decomposed granite soils, considering compaction angles, was proposed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.269-272
• /
• 2002

UV curing technology becomes important in various sectors of applications due to the high efficiency, environmental protection, and saving of energy. The effect of different proportion of vinylester (VE) and unsaturated polyester (UP) for VE/UP blend system was investigated in context of mechanical properties. The compositions of VE/UP blend were varied within 0:100, 20:80, 40:60, 60:40, 80:20, and 100:0 by weight percent. 1 wt% 1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone was used as photoinitiator. The used intensity of UV light was in the range of $40~70 mW/\textrm{cm}^2$. The flexural strength of vinylester was not sensitive to the intensity of UV light. But the unsaturated polyester was very sensitive to the intensity of UV light. The flexural strength of vinylester was always superior to that of unsaturated polyester. The addition of the vinylester increased the flexural strength of blend system.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.385-393
• /
• 2022

Previous studies postulated insignificant capillary rise (h_c) effect above the water table (H_w) for unsaturated soils. In addition, these studies utilised dry unit weight above H_w. This paper, therefore, addresses the effect of these postulations on strength where the influence of h_c using a modified upper bound approach, Discontinuity Layout Optimization (UNSAT-DLO) for a simulated soil was predicted. Two different parametric studies to model passive earth pressure and bearing capacity problems are carried out to provide an insight into the effect of capillary rise on strength. Significant increase in strength, owing to unsaturated conditions, was obtained where the maximum increase was when suction slightly less or greater than the air entry suction. On the other hand, the results showed a negative effect of h_c. For example, up to 8.24% decrease in passive thrust (P_p) was obtained at H_w=0 m when h_c rose 1 m from 0 m. To put this into perspective, this was equivalent to a decrease of about 2° in 𝜙 at H_w=0 m and h_c =0 m in order to obtain the same result at h_c =1 m. For the bearing capacity problem, the effect was seen to be higher, up to 18.4% decrease in N_𝛾 was obtained when h_c rose from 0 m to 2.5 m at H_w =0 m. In addition, the results revealed a negative influence of assigning dry unit weight above H_w or h_c.. However, considerable increase in strength was obtained when unsaturated unit weight above h_c was assigned.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.35-52
• /
• 2009

A significantly thick zone of steep slopes is commonly encountered above groundwater table and the soils within this zone are unsaturated with negative pore-water pressures (i.e., matric suction). Matric suction contributes significantly to the shear strength of soil and to the factor of safety of unsaturated slopes. However, infiltration during rainfall increases the pore-water pressure in soil resulting in a decrease in the matric suction and the shear strength of the soil. As a result, rainfall infiltration may eventually trigger a slope failure. Therefore, understanding of shear strength characteristics of saturated and unsaturated soils under shearing-infiltration (SI) conditions have direct implications in assessment of slope stability under rainfall conditions. This paper presents results from a series of consolidated drained (CD) and shearing-infiltration (SI) tests. Results show that the failure envelope obtained from the shearing-infiltration tests is independent of the infiltration rate. Failure envelopes obtained from CD and SI tests appear to be similar. For practical purposes the shear strength parameters from the CD tests can be used in stability analyses of slopes under rainfall conditions. The SI tests might be performed to obtain more conservative shear strength parameters and to study the pore-water pressure changes during infiltration.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2007.09a
• /
• pp.481-501
• /
• 2007

Excessive rainfalls due to climatic changes can trigger an increase in rainfall-induced slope failures that pose real threats to both lives and properties. Many high slopes in residual soils could stand at a steep angle, but failed during or after rainfall. Commonly, these slopes have a deep groundwater table and negative pore-water pressures in the unsaturated zone above the groundwater table contribute to the shear strength of soil and consequently to factor of safety of the slope. Stability assessment of slope under rainfall requires information on rate of rainwater infiltration in the unsaturated zone and the resulting changes in pore-water pressure and shear strength of soil. This paper describes the application of unsaturated soil mechanics principles and theories in the assessment of rainfall effect on stability of slope through proper characterization of soil properties, measurement of negative pore-water pressures, seepage and slope stability analyses involving unsaturated and saturated soils. Factors controlling the rate of changes in factor of safety during rainfall and a preventive method to minimize infiltration are highlighted in this paper.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.23 no.10
• /
• pp.57-64
• /
• 2007

Since matric suction of unsaturated soil was related to soil and ground water contaminations, it is very important to analyze its mechanism that was represented by shear characteristics. In three phases of soil, a little air makes the condition of unsaturated soil on contract or shrinkage surface between water and air. Capillarity and suction in pore of unsaturated soil cause surface tension and surface force so it makes negative pore water pressure and increases effective stress as a result. Therefore, negative pore water pressure in partially saturated soil affects the soil structure and degree of saturation and it is important to evaluate accurately unsaturate flow and behavior. In this study, the shear strength characteristics of the seven sandy soils were investigated using consolidated drained triaxial tests with special emphasis on the effects of the negative pore pressure and the matric suction. These tests involved shearing under either a constant net confining pressure and varying matric suction or under a constant matric suction and varying net normal stress.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.58 no.1
• /
• pp.19-26
• /
• 2016

This study was performed to evaluate the strength and durability properties of modified epoxy composites with waste tire chip, recycled coarse aggregate, filler and modified epoxy to improve elongation and elasticity of epoxy. Additionally, for comparing to modified epoxy and unsaturated polyester resin as a binder, unsaturated polyester resin composites were developed in the same condition. The mix proportions were determined to satisfy the requirement for the workability and slump according to aggregate size and binder content. Tests for the compressive and flexural strength, freezing and thawing and durability for 20 % sulfuric solution were performed. The compressive and flexural strength of modified epoxy composites were in the range of 34.9~61.6 MPa and 10.2~18.3 MPa at the curing 7 days, respectively. Also, the compressive and flexural strength of unsaturated polyester resin composites were in the range of 44.2~77.8 MPa and 11.3~20.8 MPa at the curing 7 days, respectively. After 300 cycles of freezing and thawing, weight decrease ratio and durability factor of modified epoxy composites were in the range of 0.8~1.9 % and 95~98, respectively. Accordingly, modified epoxy composites will greatly improve the durability of concrete.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.75-82
• /
• 2003

This paper presents the results of a study that was performed to evaluate fronds of shear strength parameters in stabilization of unbound soil-aggregate systems based on the theory of unsaturated soil mechanics. Two important shear strength parameters, effective cohesion and effective angle of internal friction were estimated by the proposed approach using the results from suction measurements and unconfined compressive strength test. In addition, the effect of different addition rates of stabilizing agent was compared. Due to the stabilization process, an increase in suction potential on engineering properties of geomaterials was observed by using dielectric constant measurements. In conclusion, the results from this study show that the proposed approach can be simply used for predicting shear strength parameters of the stabilized geomaterials.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2010.03a
• /
• pp.679-686
• /
• 2010

Mechanical characteristics of bottom ash produced in coal-fired power plant are investigated to utilize as light-weight fill materials. Triaxial compression test, water retention test, and unsaturated direct shear test were conducted for weathered soil (WS), reclaimed bottom ash (RBA), and screened bottom ash (BA). RBA had larger frictional angle and lower effective cohesion than those of WS. Water retention charactersitics of RBA and BA existed within distributions of soil-water characteristic curves for domestic weathered soils. Unsaturated shear strength of RBA was similar to that of WS at matric suctions of 50 kPa and 100 kPa. As a conclusion, bottom ash can be used as fill materials to replace the conventional construction materials by.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.7 no.5
• /
• pp.31-39
• /
• 2006

In this study, modified triaxial compression tests were carried out to investigate the characteristics of shear strength of unsaturated dredged soils. The variation of shear strength generally depends on more matric suction than drained conditions, and then is gradually converged in matric suction 100kPa. It indicates that the effective angle of internal friction and effective cohesion in unsaturated conditions increase due to degree of saturation, namely, matric suction than those of saturated conditions. Therefore, it shows that apparent friction angle, ${\phi}^b$ due to the variation of matric suction to evaluate reasonable shear strength parameters in unsaturated soils should be considered.