13. Triaxial Tests
The chapter discusses triaxial compression tests used for soil analysis, highlighting procedures for conducting these tests on sands and clays. Various types of triaxial tests are outlined, along with their methodology for determining shear strength parameters using Mohr’s circles. Significant equations and principles related to effective and total stress are presented to aid in understanding soil behavior under applied pressures.
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What we have learnt
- Triaxial tests are essential for evaluating the mechanical properties of soils, including shear strength.
- Three main types of triaxial tests can be conducted on clays based on drainage conditions: CD, CU, and UU tests.
- The Mohr-Coulomb failure envelope is critical for determining the shear strength parameters of soils.
Key Concepts
- -- Triaxial Test
- A laboratory test for determining the strength and stress characteristics of soil by applying confining pressure and axial stress.
- -- Shear Strength Parameters
- Parameters (cohesion c and angle of internal friction ϕ) used in the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion to describe soil strength.
- -- Mohr's Circle
- A graphical representation of the state of stress at a point, which helps in understanding the failure conditions of materials.
- -- Effective Stress
- The stress that contributes to soil strength, calculated by subtracting pore water pressure from total stress.
- -- Pore Water Pressure
- The pressure exerted by water within the soil pores, affecting the effective stress and shear strength of soils.
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