ISSN: 0149-6115
Published Online: 1 October 2006
Page Count: 7

Use of a Differential Pressure Transducer for the Monitoring of Soil Volume Change in Cyclic Triaxial Test on Unsaturated Soils
Cui, Y-J
Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees, (CERMES),

Tang, A-M
Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees, (CERMES),

Marcial, D
Universidad Central de Venezuela,

Terpereau, J-M
SNCF,

Marchadier, G
Direction de l'Ingýnierie, SNCF,

Boulay, X
Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees, (CERMES),

(Received 13 March 2006; accepted 18 August 2006)

Abstract

A new experimental setup using a differential pressure transducer was developed, that enables the monitoring of volume changes in cyclic triaxial tests on unsaturated soils. Calibration tests were performed in order to analyze the performance of the setup, especially in terms of loading frequencies. Based on calibration results, a low frequency of 0.05 Hz was adopted for the tests carried out on the unsaturated loess from northern France. Five levels of water content were considered in the tests. The obtained results have confirmed the efficiency of the new system for volume change monitoring under cyclic loading. The effect of water content on the cyclic behavior of loess was clearly evidenced. Finally, some suggestions were made to improve the accuracy of the system.

Keywords:
unsaturated soils, cyclic tests, volume measurement, loess, calibration

Paper ID: GTJ100539
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ100539
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