ISSN: 1945-7545
CODEN: GTJODJ
Published Online: 12 August 2010
Page Count: 6

Preparing Very Loose Granular Triaxial Specimens by Ex Situ Freezing

Graham, David S.
Graduate Researcher, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Auburn Univ., Auburn, AL

Elton, David
Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Auburn Univ., Auburn, AL

(Received 18 March 2010; accepted 20 July 2010)

Abstract

Ex situ soil freezing can be used to prepare very loose cohesionless triaxial specimens that can be handled, stored, and transported. This paper describes two freezing techniques, freezing with cold air in a freezer and freezing with liquid nitrogen. These methods are used to prepare very loose saturated Ottawa sand specimens. Special equipment and techniques used for each method are described. The advantages and disadvantages of both methods and the effectiveness of the efforts to minimize disturbance due to volume changes during freezing are discussed. Properties of specimens prepared using each method are presented. The results of 16 consolidated undrained triaxial shear tests are presented. The freezing method affects the amount of volume change during freezing but does not significantly affect the effective angle of internal friction.

Keywords:
freezing, Ottawa sand, liquid nitrogen, triaxial, loose, expansion

Paper ID: GTJ103093
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ103093
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