ISSN: 1945-7553
CODEN: JTEVAB
Published Online: 29 January 2009
Page Count: 7

A Critical Review of the Methodologies Employed for Determination of Tensile Strength of Fine-Grained Soils

Venkataramana, K.
Masters Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai

Rao, B. Hanumantha
Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai

Singh, D. N.
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai

(Received 27 June 2008; accepted 20 December 2008)

Abstract

Tensile strength of fine-grained soils plays a significant role in assessing their cracking characteristics, which govern their suitability as a construction material for landfill liners and covers, earthen dams, embankments, and pavements. As such, determination of this property of these soils becomes essential. In this context, various experimental techniques that have been developed by earlier researchers to determine tensile strength of fine-grained soils are worth appreciating. Based on the experimental results obtained from these studies, several empirical relationships have been proposed. However, these relationships relate tensile strength of the soil with a single parameter (i.e., suction, plasticity index, liquid limit, CEC, clay content, or water content). This necessitates: (a) critical evaluation of such relationships, and (b) development of a generalized relationship that employs multiple soil properties. With this in view, investigations were carried out on some fine-grained soils and their tensile strength was determined by conducting undrained triaxial tests and suction measurements. Details of the methodologies adopted are presented in this paper and efforts have been made to achieve the two objectives mentioned above.

Keywords:
fine-grained soils, tensile strength, triaxial tests, suction measurements

Paper ID: JTE101989
DOI: 10.1520/JTE101989
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