Measuring total volumetric strains during triaxial tests on frozen soils: a new approach

1978 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. O'Connor ◽  
R. J. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Volume Change ◽  
Deformation Rate ◽  
Sample Volume ◽  
Triaxial Tests ◽  
Fluid Level ◽  
Frozen Soils ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Triaxial Cell ◽  
Rate Controlled ◽  
Theoretical Accuracy

A triaxial cell has been modified to permit measurement of volumetric strains during deformation-rate-controlled and stress-controlled triaxial tests on frozen soils. In the system described here, a volume change in the soil sample alters the level of fluid in the triaxial cell. The fluid level can be monitored during the test using a sloping tube volumeter. Theoretical accuracy with this arrangement can exceed 0.1% of the sample volume.

Total Volume Change Measurement of Unsaturated Soil in Triaxial Tests: A New Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 20200002
Author(s):  
Tácio M. P. de Campos ◽  
Taíse M. de O. Carvalho ◽  
Ana Carolina de C. Viana
Keyword(s):  
Volume Change ◽  
Unsaturated Soil ◽  
Triaxial Tests ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Change Measurement ◽  
Volume Change Measurement

Optimizing Preloading Pressure of Precharged Gas for Isobaric Gas-Tight Hydrothermal Samplers

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haocai Huang ◽  
Liang Huang ◽  
Wei Ye ◽  
Shijun Wu ◽  
Canjun Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Volume Change ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Sample Volume ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Laboratory Simulation ◽  
Application Process ◽  
Sampling Depth ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Gas Tight

Isobaric gas-tight hydrothermal samplers, with the ability to maintain pressure, can be used to keep in situ chemical and biological sample properties stable. The preloading pressure of the precharged gas is a major concern for isobaric gas-tight hydrothermal samplers, especially when the samplers are used at different sampling depths, where the in situ pressures and ambient temperatures vary greatly. The most commonly adopted solution is to set the preloading pressure for gas-tight samplers as 10% of the hydrostatic pressure at the sampling depth, which might emphasize too much on pressure retention; thereby, the sample volume may be unnecessarily reduced. The pressure transition of the precharged gas was analyzed theoretically and modeled at each sampling stage of the entire field application process. Additionally, theoretical models were built to represent the pressure and volume of hydrothermal fluid samples as a function of the preloading pressure of the precharged gas. Further, laboratory simulation and examination approaches were also adopted and compared, in order to obtain the volume change of the sample and accumulator chambers. By using theoretical models and the volume change of the two chambers, the optimized preloading pressure for the precharged gas was obtained. Under the optimized preloading pressure, the in situ pressure of the fluid samples could be maintained, and their volume was maximized. The optimized preloading pressure obtained in this study should also be applicable to other isobaric gas-tight hydrothermal samplers, by adopting a similar approach to pressure maintenance.

Soil-water characteristic curve and consolidation behavior for a compacted silt

2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trinh Minh Thu ◽  
Harianto Rahardjo ◽  
Eng-Choon Leong
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Volume Change ◽  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Matric Suction ◽  
Confining Stress ◽  
Soil Water Characteristic Curve ◽  
Triaxial Cell ◽  
Isotropic Consolidation

Measurement of the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) in the laboratory is commonly conducted under zero confining pressure. However, in the field, the soil is under a confining stress. Therefore, it is important to study the effects of the confining stress on SWCC. In addition, the consolidation curve is normally generated under saturated conditions. However, the soil above the water table is usually unsaturated. Hence, it is also necessary to investigate the effects of matric suction on the characteristics of the consolidation curves. This paper presents the SWCCs under different net confining stresses and the isotropic consolidation curves under different matric suctions that describe the volume change characteristics of unsaturated soils with respect to stress state variables, net normal stress, and matric suction. A series of SWCCs was determined for statically compacted silt specimens in a triaxial cell apparatus under different net confining stresses. Isotropic consolidation tests under different matric suctions were also carried out. The results of the SWCC tests show that the air-entry value increased with increasing net confining stress. The yield points (i.e., yield suction, s0) obtained from the SWCC tests also increased with increasing net confining stress. The results of isotropic consolidation tests indicate the strong influence of matric suction on compressibility and stiffness of the compacted silt specimens.Key words: soil-water characteristic curve, isotropic consolidation, pore-water pressure, volume change, NTU mini suction probe, matric suction.

Photogrammetry-Based Method to Determine the Absolute Volume of Soil Specimen during Triaxial Testing

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (8) ◽  
pp. 206-218
Author(s):  
Sara Fayek ◽  
Xiaolong Xia ◽  
Lin Li ◽  
Xiong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Optimization Techniques ◽  
Triaxial Tests ◽  
Triaxial Testing ◽  
Soil Specimen ◽  
Compression Tests ◽  
Unconfined Compression ◽  
Absolute Volume ◽  
Triaxial Cell ◽  
The Absolute

Triaxial tests are used extensively to evaluate stress-strain behavior for both saturated and unsaturated soils. A literature review indicates that all conventional triaxial test methods measure the relative volume of soil; however, between the initial measurements and the start of the triaxial tests, there are unavoidably disturbances during installation that cause deviation of soil volume from that at the initial condition. Recently image-based methods have been developed to measure the absolute volume of soil specimens. However, these methods still have a major limitation in their inability to determine top and bottom boundaries between the soil specimen, and the top and bottom caps. This paper proposes a photogrammetry-based method to overcome this limitation by developing a mathematically rigorous technique to determine the upper and lower boundaries of soil specimens during triaxial testing. The photogrammetry technique was used to determine the orientations of the camera, and the shape and location of the acrylic cell. Multiple ray-tracings and least-square optimization techniques were also applied to obtain the coordinates of any point inside the triaxial cell, and thus back-calculate the upper and lower boundaries. With these boundaries and the side surface, a triangular surface mesh was constructed and the specimen volume was then calculated in both unconfined compression tests and triaxial tests. The calculation procedures are presented in detail with validation tests performed on a cylindrical specimen to evaluate the accuracy of the method. Results indicate that the accuracy of the proposed method is up to 0.023% in unconfined compression tests and 0.061% in triaxial tests.

Experimental behaviour and modelling of an unsaturated compacted soil

2000 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 748-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celestino Rampino ◽  
Claudio Mancuso ◽  
Filippo Vinale
Keyword(s):  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Stress Path ◽  
Silty Sand ◽  
Triaxial Tests ◽  
Experimental Program ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Soil Response ◽  
Optimum Water Content ◽  
Triaxial Cell

This paper reports the experimental study and modelling of the mechanical response of a silty sand used in the core of the Metramo dam, Italy. Specimens were prepared by compacting the soil at optimum water content conditions using the modified Proctor technique. Tests were performed under suction-controlled conditions by a stress path triaxial cell and an oedometer. The experimental program consists of 23 tests carried out in the suction range of 0-400 kPa. The findings indicate the strong influence of suction on compressibility, stiffness, and shear strength. The mechanical properties of the soil improve with suction following an exponential law with decreasing gradient. Furthermore, the soil exhibited collapsible behaviour upon wetting even at low stress levels. Interesting results were also achieved in elastoplastic modelling as well. The results led to characterization of soil behaviour with reference to widely accepted modelling criteria for unsaturated soils, providing noteworthy suggestions about their applicability for granular materials with a non-negligible fine component. Finally, some remarks are made for the extension under unsaturated conditions of the "Nor sand" model for saturated granular soils. The proposed approach yields improved predictions of deviator soil response of the tested soil when Cambridge-type frameworks prove invalid.Key words: unsaturated soils, stress state variables, triaxial tests, oedometer tests, constitutive model.

Direct measurement of matric suction in triaxial tests on early-age cemented paste backfill

2009 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Simms ◽  
Murray Grabinsky
Keyword(s):  
Testing Procedure ◽  
Matric Suction ◽  
Water Retention Curve ◽  
Triaxial Tests ◽  
Early Age ◽  
Cemented Paste Backfill ◽  
Triaxial Cell ◽  
Paste Backfill ◽  
Observed Behaviour ◽  
Stope Design

Hydration occurring in cemented paste backfill (CPB) is shown to generate matric suction through self-desiccation. This complicates determination of the water-retention curve and mechanical properties during curing, which are important in stope design, and renders problematic the use of axis-translation testing procedure to control suctions in strength testing. An alternative is to monitor suction directly during testing. To this end, a miniature tensiometer is inserted into the base of a triaxial cell. A series of unconfined and confined tests are performed on early-age (less than two weeks old) CPB. The observed behaviour is similar to that observed in weakly cemented soils, showing a distinct tendency to dilate during shearing.

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