SEDL / STP / STP361-EB / STP30017S

Test Interpretation and Errors

Seed, HB
Professor and associate professor of civil engineering, University of California, Berkeley,

Mitchell, JK
Professor and associate professor of civil engineering, University of California, Berkeley,

Pages: 15    Published: Jan 1964

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Abstract

After many years of soil-strength investigations, problems arising from errors in test procedures and difficulties in interpreting the results of laboratory strength tests for incorporation in field problems still constitute one of the most troublesome aspects of the subject. Some of the principal problems involved may be summarized as follows: Conditions of Specimens—To what extent are the strength characteristics of so-called undisturbed specimens of natural soils representative of those of the in-situ material? To what extent are the strength characteristics of laboratory-compacted specimens representative of those in the field, and how are they influenced by compaction methods and placement conditions?