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    Tensão de Cisalhamento para Solos não Saturados

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    Tensão de Cisalhamento para Solos não Saturados

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    10 views33 pages

    Shear Strength of Unsaturated Soils

    Uploaded by

    Hamilton Costa
    Tensão de Cisalhamento para Solos não Saturados

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 33
    Fredlund, D.G. and Vanapalli, S.K. (2002), “Shear Strength of Unsaturated Soils”, Agronomy Soil ‘Testing Manual, Agronomy Society of America, pp. 324 - 361 2.7 Shear Strength of Unsaturated Soils .G.FREDLUND, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S.K. VANAPALLI, Lakehead Universi, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada 2.7.1 Introduction Geotechnical, geoenvironmental, and agricultural engineers, along with soil sci- ists, re interested in understanding the shear strength behavior of sil. The shear strength ofa soil is required for addressing numerous problems, such asthe design of foundations retaining walls, and pavements in civil engineering applications and the resistance to traction and tillage tols for agriculture engineering applications “The shearing behavior ofa saturated sol is related to one steststate vari- able; namely, the effective stress, /, defined as (6 1). The tem, 6, is the total stress and is the pore-water pressure. The pote- water pressures in saturated soils ae typically postive or zero. Shea strength tet for saturated soils canbe performed inmost geotechnical and agricultural laboratories. Detailed test procedures related tothe determination of the shear strength of stureted soil are not discussed in this section, Standard testing procedures as per American Society for Testing and Ma- terials (ASTM) methods for various shea strength tests for saturated sols are sum- ‘marized in D2850-95e!, D3080-98, D2166-98a, and D4767-95 (ASTM, 1995a,b, 1998a,b). More information related to the test procedures is available in Lambe (1951), Holtz and Kovacs (1981), and Bishop and Henkel (1962) Soils in an unsaturated state have negative pore-water pressures, The differ- cence between the pore-ir pressure, uy, and pore-WaterpresSUr, ty is referred to 43 matric suction (u,~ ). Unlike saturated soils, the mechanical behavior of un- saturated soils depends on two independent stress-state variables. These variables are the stress tensor, (6 1,), which is refered to 8s net normal stres, and matric suction (4, 1% (Fredlund & Rehardj, 1993) Soil behaviors independent of the individual valves of ut, oF the total stress, 6, solong asthe stress-state variables, (C=) and (4,~u), are invariant. A special ease ofthis principle, thatthe water content of unconfined sol specimens in & pressure membrane apparatus is uniguely dependent on the matric suction (u,~ uy), regardless ofthe individual values of, and 1, is familiar to soil physicists “The complete form of the stress state for an unsaturated sol in terms of two independent stress tensors canbe represented ina matrix form as shown below: (,-4, te te ty (0,-m) ty R71] % me (=u) 2 CHAPTER? and 272 Figure2.7-1 illustrates two independent stress tensor in an unsaturated soil ‘The three normal stresses, C6, and ©, are mutually orthogonsl with respect to s,y,and direction. Te six shear-stress components acting on the boundaries are symmetric, = gi. Because ofthis, iis possible to choose an orientation of the -ry-z axes, own asthe principal sre space. The shear stresses vanish inthe prin- cipal sess space, andthe net applied stress tensor for this condition in a matrix form is shown below. (2.743) ‘The three principal stresses, © (major principal stress), 0 (intermediate prin- cipal stress), and o (minor principal stress), respectively are applied tothe bound- aries, and the diagonal components of the principle stress tensor represent the eigenvalues ofthe general stress tensor from continuum mechanics principles. ‘The shear strength of an unsaturated soil is conventionally measured load- ing a cylindrical specimen in compression using triaxial shear-esting equipment. The pore pressures, u, and u,, and principal stresses, 6, G2, and Gs, are indepen- ently controlled (similar to'a pressure plate apparatus) in the triaxial cell of the (aru) (oy~ {tu-w \ tw PSL AV cn (o.- wy ig 27-1, The res sate variables fran unatartod soi ing the combination of) and, th ‘THE SOLID PHASE 3 shoartesting equipment. Typical constant inthis equipment are that ois equal 10.0, and gis les than, The resuking devstor stess (6 ~ 0) due to speci- ‘men loading is measured in compression. The shear stresses are always directly pro- portional to the deviator stress (0; ~ 03) for any given coordinate axis system, “The direct shear apparatus is another experimental apparatus to measure scl-shearing behavior. Uli the wixial shear apparatus, where all applied sess axe principal suests, the direct shear apparatus has one applied normal stress com ponent, 0, and the shear resistance, t, is measured perpendicular to 0 More de- tls about the triaxial and direct shear equipment and Mohr-Coulomb approach {or interpreting the unsaturated shear strength behavior are described later. This section discusses the basic principles and experimental procedures re- tated tothe measurement ofthe shear strength of unsaturated soils using triaxial and direct shear apparatus. The procedures for estimating the shear strength ofan un- saturated soil fom the soil water characteristic curve and the saturated shear strength parameters are also discussed. 2.7.2 Shear Strength Equation for Unsaturated Soils. ‘The shear strength behavior of an unsturated soil canbe interpreted using tviaxial or direct shear test results. The shear strength ofan unsaturated soils de- termined using “identical” specimens. The soil specimens need tobe prepared at ‘the same initial water content and dry density conditions to qualify as identical spec- Jimens Fredlnd & Rabardj, 1993). In a pica triaxial et series, the shear strength i determined over a range ‘of matric suction values using the same net normal sess (Oi), I the major prit- {pal stress, cy, and minor principal sesso, acting on aspecmen are known, the shear stes, 0, and the normal stress, oy, acting ona plane oriented at any given angle, o, canbe calculated elatve tothe principel axe. Also, Mohr's citles can be ploted with respect to failure condition fr combinations of, and ©} and dif ferent values of matric suction. Figure 2.7-2 shows the failure envelope drawn tan- gentto the Mobs circles. Fredlund etl. (1978) proposed the equation show below for interpreting the shear strength of unsaturated soils in terms of two independent stese-stat vati- ables, (6 ~u,) and (1, ~ ty): Bp e+ (Oy— we tangy + (y~ my tang? 2.74) where ts the shear stress onthe failure plane at fale, isthe intercept of he extended Mohr-Coulomb failure envelope on the shear stress axis where the net rormalsuess andthe matric suction at fire are equal to zero—itis alo referred tos effective cohesion, (6; us the net normal sess state on he failure plane at failure, uy isthe pore-ait pressure onthe filre plane at failure, isthe angle of internal ction associated withthe net normal sues state variable (0; ~ m4), (4,—u)ri the marie suction on the failure plane at failure, and isthe angle in Aicating the rate of increase in shear strength relative tothe mate suction, (4, — a) ‘ cuarTeR? (085, Failure envelope : Tra C's 6,7 u,) tang +(u-u)jtan @ Net normal stress, (0- bo-w—| Fig 27-2, Sear rengthenveloe for unstated si (rom Freund & Rakai, 1993), ‘The shear strength equation for an unsaturated soil (Eq [2.74] is also valid for direct shear tests, This equation isan extension of the Mohe-Coulomb shear strength equation fora saturted soil “The shear strength envelope for unsaturated soils was originally proposed as 1 planar surface in nature based on a limited set of data available inthe literature (Fredlund etal, 1978). Later experimental evidence by several investigators es- ‘ablished that the shear strength for unsaturated soils is nonlinear when tested over a large range of suction (Gan etal, 1988; Escario & Juca, 1989) The Fredlund et al. (1978) equation is valid fr interpreting data for both linear and nonlinear shear strength envelopes. 2.7.3 Triaxial Shear Tests for Unsaturated Soils Conventional triaxial and direct shear equipment used to measure the shear strength of saturated soils requires modifications when testing the shear strength of unsaturated soils. These modifications must accommodate independent mea- surement (or control of the pore-air pressure, and the pore-WAter PeSSUE, ty. ‘The axis-ranslation technique forms the basis for these modifications. Laboratory testing of unsaturated sols with matric suction values >101.3 kPa (ie. | atm) can then be undertaken without encountering cavitation problems (Hilf, 1956) ‘The axis-translation technique allows the pore-water pressure, uy, in an un- saturated soil to be measured (or controlled) using a ceramic disk with Fine pores ‘THE SOLID PHASE 5 “able 27-1 Dire anes fr wena, Drainage Pore Pore Festmetods sewn ‘Conolidted dind Ye Yer onan ter cote Ye No Conolidted ude Ne No ‘Undaned compression No No Uncotined compression No No ‘et meson, C= convalled, (ie, ahigh si-entry disk), These disks are used in unsaturated soil testing in place cof conventional porous disks used in ssturated soil testing. The ceramic disk must ‘be epoxied around the edge to form a seal withthe base pedestal. The high ar-entry disk acts as a semipermeable membrane that separates the air and water phases, The separation of the water and air phases can be achieved only when the air-entry value ‘ofthe disk is greater than the matric suction of the soil. The air-enry value refers to the maximum matric suction to which the high ar-entry disk can be subjected before free air passes through the disk. ‘Various types of triaxial test methods are defined on the bass of drainage con- ditions during the application of confining pressure and during the application of the shear stress. The net total confining pressure (©; ~ v) generally remains con- stant during shear. The axial stress is continuously increased until a failure condi tion is reached. The axial stress generally ats as the total major principal stress, ‘},in the axial direction, while the isotropic confining pressure acts asthe total minor principal stress 0; [i., (0; = 05) ‘The shear strength of unsaturated soils isinterpete in terms ofthe two stress state variables, (6 ~ u) and (uy ~ ws), ithe failure pore pressures are measured. ‘Such an approach is referred to asa sress-sfate-variable approach for unseturated soils. The shea strength has tobe interpreted in terms of total stresses at failure if ‘the pore pressures are not measured or controlled. The total stress approach for un- saturated soils shouldbe applied inthe field only forthe ase where itcanbe rightly assumed thatthe strength measured in the laboratory has relevance to the field drainage conditions. For example, rapid loading of «fine-grained soil can be as- sumed to be representative of undtained loading conditions. ‘The ar, water, or total volume changes may or may not be measured during shear. A summary of various triaxial testing conditions, together with necessary mea- surements, is given in Table 2.71. The aif, water, oF total volume changes may or ‘may not be measured during shear. 2.7.31 Test Procedures for Triaxial Tests Figure 2.7-3 shows the assemblage ofa triaxial cell used for testing the shear strength ofan unsaturated sol. The installation ofa high ar-entry disk onto the tri- axial cell base pedestal requires modifications to accommodate the poresairpres- ‘sure channel (ie, valve C), the high air-entry disk, and the grooved water com- partment below the disk (Fig. 2.7-4). The grooves inside the water compartment ‘ CHAPTER? serve as water channels for flushing air bubbles that might be trapped or have ac- cumulated a a result air diffusion. The high air-entry disk should be properly sealed ‘nto the base pedestal using an epoxy resin seal around its circumference. ‘The high ar-enty disk must be fully saturated before use in testing the shear strength of an unsaturated soil specimen, either in a triaxial shear test or a direct shear test. A head of distilled water can be applied tothe high air-entry disk inthe triaxial or direct shear equipment chamber. The water is then allowed to flow through the disk fora period of approximately Ib, using an air pressure that is ap- proximately equal to several times the air-entry value (Le, five or six times). The air bubbles collected during the process from below the disk are flushed out. This procedure dissolves the air present inthe disk and ensures fll saturation of the high air-entry disk. ‘Typical diameters recommended for testing the shear strength of fine-grained and coarse-grained soil specimens arc 38 and 76 mm, respectively. The ratio of length to diameter is recommended to be equal to 2. This value is similar to test fo} | Load cot - Conta ‘ioe (8) — ga Gites. 5 ban | — pecans eI Porat Pes | J ‘ rrawlge mo = Fig 27-3. Modified wil cel for ting the sear eng of ensatrated sis (om Freund & Rabari, 1993) ‘THE SOLID PHASE 7 ing the shear strength of saturated soil specimens. The unsaturated soil specimens used for determining the shear strength, ether undisturbed or compacted, are gen cally saturated before testing, Saturation is achieved in triaxial shear equipment bby incrementally increasing the pore-watr pressure, uy. Atthe same time, the con- fining pressure, 0, i increased incrementally to maintain a constant effective stress (0,1) in the specimen. As a result, the pore-ir pressure increases and the pore- air volume decreases by compression and dissolution into the pore-water. The si- ‘multaneous pore-water and confining pressure increases are referred to as backpres- -suring the soil specimen. ‘Valve A in the base plate is used to control the pore-water pressure and to mea- sure the water-volume change during a drained shear test (Fig. 2.7—4). Valve A can. be connected toa twin-burette volume-change indicator (Bishop & Donald, 1961; Bishop & Henkel, 1962). Valve B on the base plate is used to measure the pore- ‘Water pressure during an undrained test. tcan also be used to measure the prescribed. pore-wate pressure during a drained tet. The pore-water pressure can be measured using a pressure transducer, Warr una range meearenan oie Sime mature Fig 27-4 Thin base plate for unstated soil esting. (0) Plan view of the base plate with is ou Terps: (erat sevion as arpa witha higher i (fom Freda & Rahar, 1983) 5 CHAPTER? ‘An arrangement for pore-air pressure control using triaxial equipment is shown in Fig.2.7-3. A 3.2-mm (1/8-in.) thick, coarse corundum disk is placed be- ‘ween the soil specimen and the loading cap. The disk is connected to the pore-air pressure control through a hole drilled inthe loading cap and connected toa small- ‘bore polyethylene tube. The pore-ir pressure can be controlled ata desired pres- sure usinga pressure regulator ftom an ar supply. The measurement of pore-irpres- sure can be achieved using a small pressure transducer, preferably mounted onthe loading cap. When measuring pore-air pressure, the air volume of the measuring system should be kept a minimum to obtain accurate measurements Pre-sirpres- sure is difficult to measure because ofthe capability of sr to diffuse through rub- bbermembranes, water, polythene tubing, and other materials. The pore-air diffuses through water ifthe axis-anslation technique i extended fora long ime. A dif- fused air-volume indicator (DAVID can be used in conjunction with the measuring system to flush diffused air from below the high at-entry disk. Ii also possible to measute the volume of diffused air. Such a procedure enables @ more accurate ‘measurement of Volume changes (Fredlund & Rahardj, 1993) “The layout of the plumbing for the control bosrd is shown in Fig. 2.7-5. The pore-sir pressure line controls the pore-ir pressure. inthe case where the pore-ait pressure is measured, a pressure transducer can be connected tothe data-acquisi- tion system through the baseplate ‘The intial confining air and water pressures to be applied tothe soil speci- ‘men canbe set on the pressure regulators before preparing he specimen. The con- Fabia ina =} Loans we ‘@ Pramea ope eae © Shut ae enero © Teweey te © rar gue ig 27-5. Schema diagram ofthe conte! board and plumting layout forthe modified wil ap- Paras (om Freund & Ratu, 193), ‘THE SOLID PHASE 5 fining air and water pressures are applied to form the required stess-sate variables, (©) ~ u,) and (u,— uy) othe specimen through Valves D, C, and A, respectively (Fig. 27-5) An initial water pressure of 30 kPa or greater is desirable to provide sufficient pressure to flush air from the base plate 2.73.1.a Consolidated Drained Test “The consolidated dened (CD) testi common test conducted in the lnbo- ratory to measure the shea strength of an unsaturated soil. Figute 27-6 shows the sexs conditions during the consolidated drained axial compression test. In this ‘ype oftesy, the sols consolidated toa ses ate represcrative ofthe stress range likely tobe encountered inthe field o indesign. The soil ecimen in theta cells generally consolidated under anisotropie confining pressure of, while the potear and pore-water pressures sre controlled at pressures of andy, respec- tively by opening Valves D,C, and A Fig. 27-8). Valves Band E are lays closed daring the et excep during the fushing of diffused afr the base plate. The water pressure, applied tothe bas plate, registered on a ransducer, ‘The vertical deflection andthe deformation ae periodically monitored tomes- sure the overall volume change ofthe specimen. The volume of water flowing into (rout rom) the specimens recorded on the twin-urete volume-change indica. tor Therefore, the thre-way valves, and, are always open during the est ex- ep during the process of ashing diffused sir rom the baseplate (Fig. 2.7-5). The sitvolume change is generally not measured. Consolidation is assumed to have reached an equilibrium condition when ther isn longer a tendency forthe over- all volume change ofthe flow of water rom the specimen. Atthe end ofthe con- foliation proces, the soil specimen has net conning pressure of (0) ~ and ‘matric suction of (1, — 144). The specimen is then sheared by axial compression, at an appropriate stain rate. More details with respect to the stain rates of shear strength testing are discussed below. Diffused airs generally flushed from the base plat once a day during both consolidation and shearing. The frequency ofthe diffisedairmeasorement depends Primaily onthe applied ar pressure. Fo alow applied air pressure, the diffused. volume can be measured less frequently. In any cae, the difusd-ae volume should be measured before changing applied pressures. The watr-volume change correction, dus tothe diffused ar volume, becomes necessary whenever et eX- tend overa period of several days. “The soil specimen is compressed inthe axial direction by applying a devia- ‘tor stress [i.¢., (0 ~ 03)] during the shearing process. The drainage valves for both pore air and pore water remain open during the shearing stage (ender drained conditions). The pore-air and pore-water pressures are usually controlled at con- stan pressures (i.e, thet pressures at th end of consolidation). The devitor stress, is applied slow'y to prevent the development of exces pore-ir pressre or pore- ‘water pressure in the soil. The net confining pressure, (63 —~ u,), and the matric suc- tion, (us ~ ma), feman constant throughout the test unt faire conditions are reached, as shown in Fig. 27-6, thai, (3 ~ w= (63) and (= Hu) (te wr) The deviator sess (6 6) keeps changing during shear until he net major Principal sess reaches value of (= )yat fae a Stages Total {o- us) (Ua = Uw) Biss presente pressure e Equioeium sting end of Lo, fu] — [a at consoldation 09 , xia compression Lo, fu] fo. Jets und (01-00 foe 4, + Attaiure eo, fun] [om Joos -uh= O- os Fig 27-6 Srestcondtons rng consisted drained isa compression tet (om Fretand & Rahs, 198) TWaavHo ‘THE SOLID PHASE " 2.7.3.1.b Constant Water-Content Tests For the constant water content (CW) test, the specimen is first consolidated ‘and then sheared, withthe pore-ar phase allowed to drain while the pore-water phase is inn undrained mode. The consolidation procedure is similar to that ofthe con- solidated drained test. When equilibrium i teached atthe end of consolidation, the sol specimen has a net confining pressure of (0) ~ u,) and a matric suction of (4, =u). The specimen is sheared by inereasing the deviator stress until failure is reached. During shear, the drainage valve for the pore air remains open (i.e. under drained conditions). The pore-air pressure, u, is maintained atthe pressure applied during consolidation; that i, Valve Cis open during consolidation and shear (Fig, 2.7-5), The pore-water pressure is measured using a pressure transducer mounted ‘onthe base plate During shear, under undrained water-phase conditions, the diffused air vol- ‘ume should be measured. In this cas, the water pressure inthe base plate should bbe recorded before the flushing process and reset after flushing. The water in the pore-water pressure control line should first be subjected to the same pressure as recorded in the baseplate. Valves A, T,, and T; should remain closed, while Valve Eis opened when adjusting the waterline pressure. The air Back pressure in the diffused sir-volume indicator should be adjusted toa pressure slightly lower than the recorded water pressure inthe baseplate, while Valve B remains closed. When Valve A is opened, the water in the baseplate will quickly equalize tothe pore-water pressure control line. The diffused air is then removed from the base plate by mo- ‘mentaily opening Valve B, which produces a pressure difference across the base plate. Valves A and B are closed atthe end ofthe diffused air-volume measurement. ‘The undrained pore-water pressure is then returned tothe value existing before the flushing process. Ifthe difused-air removal is performed in a short period of time, disturbance tothe undrained condition ofthe specimen should be minimal 2.7.3.1. Consolidated Undrained Tests with Pore-Pressure Measurements For the consolidated undrained (CU) tes, the sil specimen is first consol dated following the procedure described forthe consolidated drained est. Aer ea librium conditions have been established under the applied pressures (i, ©, and u,), the sil specimen is sheared under undrained conditions with respec the ir and water phases, Undrained conditions during shear are achieved by clos- ing Valves A,B, and C Fig.2.7-5 “The pressure wansducer shouldbe mounted onthe loading cap if possible, for measuring pore-air pressure changes. However, iti difficult to maintain an undrained condition forthe pre air because ofits capability to diffuse through the pore water, the rubber membrane, and the water in the high airentry disk. “The diffused-air volume canbe measured ina manner similar to that sed dur. ing the CW test. These tests are generally not performed because of the problems associated with air diffusion. 2.7.3.4 Undrained Tests ‘The procedure for performing an undrained test on an unsaturated sol spec- men using the triaxial shear apparatus is similar to the procedure used for per- a CHAPTER? forming a typical undrained test on a saturated soil specimen. The unsaturated soil specimen i tested at its inital water content or matric suction. In other words, the inital matric suetion in the specimen is not relaxed or changed before commenc- ing the tes. Both confined and unconfined compression triaxial tests can be con- ducted, andthe shear strength contribution du to suction canbe interpreted in terms of total stresses, Matric suction changes in an unsaturated soil under undrained loading con- ditions are analogous to the changes in pore-water pressures in saturated soils under similar conditions of loading. Volume change in unsaturated soils under undrained loading is due mainly to the compression of air. Undrained pore pres- sures are assumed to be generated immediately after loading. Figure 2.7-7 shows the development of pore-ar and pore-water pressures dur- ing undrained compression under an applied isotropic stress. Skempton (1954) and Bishop (1954) introduced the concept of pore-pressure parameters. Tangent pore pressure parameters for air and water phases for undrained loading conditions are: B,= du,/do3 [2.7-5) B= duglios 27-6) ‘where B, is the tangent pore-ir pressure parameter, dis the increase in pore-air pressure due to an infinitesimal increase in isotropic pressure, doy; do isthe in- finitesimal increase in isotropic pressure; By isthe tangent pore-water pressure pa Fig 27-7, Development of pore presses et indie lading contions (rom Fedhnd & Ra aro, 1983) “THE SOLID PHASE rameter; and du, isthe increase in pore-water pressure due to an infinitesimal in-

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