Shear strength and tensile strength of partially saturated sands

 

 

Motivation

As a rule, existing traffic route dams have higher shear parameters than may be applied for the verification of stability. The additional shear strength is mainly due to capillary stresses acting within the meniscus of the partially saturated soil matrix and holding the grain structure together even when the external pressure disappears (so-called capillary cohesion).

Goal

  • Experimental determination of the capillary cohesion of partially saturated silty sands using triaxial and tensile tests
  • Development of a model for estimating capillary cohesion as a function of capillary stresses for a realistic approach to shear parameters for airy sands

laboratory tests

Determination of shear strength, tensile strength and unconfined compressive strength of sands on samples with different water contents