Influence of Unsaturated State Variables on Small Strain Elastic Behaviour

Hasan, A.M. and Wheeler, S.J. (2015) Influence of Unsaturated State Variables on Small Strain Elastic Behaviour. In: 6th Asia Pacific Conference on Unsaturated Soils, Guilin, China, 23-26 Oct 2015, 191`-196. ISBN 9781138029217 (doi: 10.1201/b19248-29)

Abstract

Bender/extender element testing of unsaturated compacted speswhite kaolin samples was used to investigate the influences of mean net stress p, suction s, specific volume v and degree of saturation Sr on shear and compression wave velocities, Vs and Vp, and hence on small strain elastic values of undrained shear modulus and undrained constrained modulus. Testing was performed in a suction-controlled triaxial cell and involved combinations of isotropic loading and unloading stages and wetting and drying stages, in an attempt to isolate the influence of each unsaturated state variable. The results showed that increases of Vs are caused by increases of p and decreases of v. Combined increases of s and decreases of Sr during drying also lead to increases of Vs, and conversely combined decreases of s and increases of Sr during wetting lead to decreases of Vs. Separating the effects of changes of s and Sr on Vs was not possible, because the evidence on the influence of a change of Sr at constant s was contradictory. Increases of Vp are caused by increases of p and Sr and decreases of v, whereas the influence of a change of s at constant Sr is unclear.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hasan, Mr Ahmed Mohammed and Wheeler, Professor Simon
• Authors: Hasan, A.M., and Wheeler, S.J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Infrastructure and Environment
• ISBN: 9781138029217