ISSN: 1945-7545
Page Count: 6

A Method for Testing Tensile Strength in Unsaturated Soils

Tang, GX
Engineer, Golder Associates Ltd., Calgary,

Graham, J
Professor, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg,

(Received 17 December 1999; accepted 11 January 2000)

Abstract

This paper presents a new method for testing tensile strength in unsaturated soils. A rigid tensile mold has been designed and simple testing procedures developed. A series of tension tests has been carried out on densely compacted unsaturated soil specimens to evaluate the method. The material tested in this study was a highly plastic 50:50 (by dry weight) mixture of sand and Na-rich bentonite. Cylindrical specimens were the same size and shape as those used for triaxial tests.

Keywords:
tensile strength, unsaturated soils, sand-bentonite mixture, suctions, brittle rupture, cracking

Paper ID: GTJ11059J
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ11059J
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