TY - JOUR
T1 - Studying the stress-suction coupling in soils using an oedometer equipped with a high capacity tensiometer
AU - Le, Trung Tinh
AU - Cui, Yu-Jun
AU - Munoz, Juan Jorge
AU - Delage, Pierre
AU - Tang, Anh Minh
AU - Li, Xiang Ling
A2 - Chen, Guangjing
N1 - Score = 10
PY - 2011/3
Y1 - 2011/3
N2 - Various works have concerned the hydromechanical behavior of Boom clay. Due to some amount of smectite minerals in the clay fraction, Boom clay exhibits swelling properties when hydrated under low stresses. To investigate some aspects of the hydromechanical behavior of Boom clay, oedometer compression tests, during which the changes in suction with increased vertical stress are monitored by means of a high capacity tensiometer installed at the bottom of the sample, were carried out on samples close to saturation and submitted to an initial suction. Some aspects related to hydromechanical couplings are examined through the investigation of the changes in suction during oedometer compression, a somewhat delicate and poorly documented experimental approach. The experiment allows the determination of the point at which suction is changed to positive pressure during compression and different HM behaviour below and above this point. The suction/stress behavior during unloading is also described and discussed. Finally, an interpretation in terms of microstructure effects is provided. The experimental approach seems to provide interesting further application to better understand hydromechanical couplings in natural soils in relation with suction increase during stress release.
AB - Various works have concerned the hydromechanical behavior of Boom clay. Due to some amount of smectite minerals in the clay fraction, Boom clay exhibits swelling properties when hydrated under low stresses. To investigate some aspects of the hydromechanical behavior of Boom clay, oedometer compression tests, during which the changes in suction with increased vertical stress are monitored by means of a high capacity tensiometer installed at the bottom of the sample, were carried out on samples close to saturation and submitted to an initial suction. Some aspects related to hydromechanical couplings are examined through the investigation of the changes in suction during oedometer compression, a somewhat delicate and poorly documented experimental approach. The experiment allows the determination of the point at which suction is changed to positive pressure during compression and different HM behaviour below and above this point. The suction/stress behavior during unloading is also described and discussed. Finally, an interpretation in terms of microstructure effects is provided. The experimental approach seems to provide interesting further application to better understand hydromechanical couplings in natural soils in relation with suction increase during stress release.
KW - Oedometer
KW - tensiometer
KW - swelling
KW - physicochemical and mechanical effects
KW - stress/suction coupling
KW - soil plasticity
UR - http://ecm.sckcen.be/OTCS/llisapi.dll/open/ezp_113623
UR - http://knowledgecentre.sckcen.be/so2/bibref/8022
U2 - 10.1007/s11709-011-0106-x
DO - 10.1007/s11709-011-0106-x
M3 - Article
VL - 5
SP - 160
EP - 170
JO - Frontiers of Architecture and Civil Engineering in China
JF - Frontiers of Architecture and Civil Engineering in China
SN - 1673-7407
IS - 2
ER -