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Determination of the Shear Strength of Unsaturated Loess Samples from Conventional Triaxial Shear Tests Applying Rubber Membrane Correction

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  • Ruixia He

    (Department of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan 467036, China
    Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada)

  • Ziwen Zhou

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
    School of Earth Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Sai Vanapalli

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada)

  • Xuyang Wu

    (Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China)

Abstract

The shear strength parameters of loess samples are determined from conventional triaxial shear test results and used in the rational design of sustainable geotechnical infrastructures. However, the rubber membrane that is used in the triaxial shear apparatus for applying the all-around pressure to the test specimen has a significant influence on the measured shear strength parameters. In this paper, remolded and undisturbed unsaturated loess samples from northwest China are used in a comprehensive testing program to determine the shear strength from triaxial tests and understand the influence of a rubber membrane. The results show that the measured undrained cohesion from unconsolidated undrained triaxial tests on unsaturated soil specimens with and without a rubber membrane are significantly different. In this study, differences in the shear strength with and without a rubber membrane are assessed from shear strength index values that can be determined from undrained cohesion and the internal friction angle derived from conventional triaxial tests. Experimental results suggest that predominant changes arise mainly in the undrained cohesion values. The change rate of shear strength indices values of undisturbed loess shows a strong correlation with its water content; however, it is weak for remolded loess. The correlation coefficient between error and measured values of all shear strength indices is more than 0.8. Empirical correction relationships for triaxial shear tests with a rubber membrane for three different types of loess were established from the investigations. The simple approach used in this study can be used as a reference to apply corrections to the measured undrained cohesion values of unsaturated loess samples from northwest China.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruixia He & Ziwen Zhou & Sai Vanapalli & Xuyang Wu, 2024. "Determination of the Shear Strength of Unsaturated Loess Samples from Conventional Triaxial Shear Tests Applying Rubber Membrane Correction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:5:p:2120-:d:1350908
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Guoqing Cai & Jian Li & Shaopeng Liu & Jiguang Li & Bowen Han & Xuzhen He & Chenggang Zhao, 2022. "Simulation of Triaxial Tests for Unsaturated Soils under a Tension–Shear State by the Discrete Element Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Yuanqiang Lv & Changliang Zhang & Jingang Zhao, 2023. "Collapsibility Mechanisms and Water Diffusion Morphologies of Loess in Weibei Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-26, May.
    3. Pu Peng & Ze Li & Xiaoyan Zhang & Wenlian Liu & Sugang Sui & Hanhua Xu, 2023. "Slope Failure Risk Assessment Considering Both the Randomness of Groundwater Level and Soil Shear Strength Parameters," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-25, May.
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