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Prediction of Undrained Cohesion obtained from Triaxial Tests using Natural

Moisture Content

Conference Paper · August 2018

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Ndubuisi Obaji Oladayo O. Komolafe

University of Lagos University of New Hampshire
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13th UNILAG ANNUAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE & FAIR 18 ENG 027

Prediction of Undrained Cohesion obtained from Triaxial Tests using Natural Moisture
Content

Obaji N.O. and Komolafe O.O.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of

Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria

Corresponding Author Email: nobaji@unilag.edu.ng

Abstract

Undrained cohesion is an important parameter used in solving various Geotechnical

Engineering problems. The Triaxial test is one of the most common laboratory tests used to
determine undrained cohesion. The determination of undrained cohesion which is required to
evaluate the strength characteristics of cohesive deposits is usually cumbersome, time
dependent and requires undisturbed soil samples obtained from the field. The ease of
determining undrained cohesion from basic geotechnical parameters will help engineers solve
problems quickly and conveniently. In this research work, a database of undrained cohesion
was obtained from series of triaxial laboratory tests conducted on undisturbed cohesive soil
samples obtained from over 200 samples from various sites in Lagos and its environs. The
database of undrained cohesion values was correlated with their individual natural moisture
contents. The results showed good relationship between the two soil properties across the
various sites considered and an empirical equation was generated to predict the undrained
cohesion values from natural moisture content. The significance of this research work is that
the developed empirical equation can be used by Geotechnical Engineers to quickly predict
undrained cohesion which will help to save time especially where undisturbed samples are
not available.

Keywords: Undrained Cohesion, Natural Moisture Content, Triaxial test

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28 – 30 August, 2018 AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE HUMANITIES & SCIENCES
13th UNILAG ANNUAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE & FAIR 18 ENG 027

1.0 INTRODUCTION
The solution to most geotechnical engineering problems often requires detailed
information of soil properties which can be variable, anisotropic and heterogeneous. The
varying soil properties are usually determined from various in situ or laboratory tests. One
very important parameter necessary for analysing numerous geotechnical problems and
designing various geo-structures (or substructures) especially in cohesive soils is the
Undrained Cohesion, which can be difficult to determine accurately in the field. The
undrained cohesion is most often obtained from the laboratory using the undrained Triaxial
test.

In the field, geotechnical engineers often take undisturbed samples at salient depths of
cohesive soil deposits during subsurface exploration for strength and settlement evaluation.
However, there are occasions whereby undisturbed samples may not be recovered in a
particular stratum and the strength parameters may be required for design considerations.
Such cases may be remedied by using some common parameters that can readily predict the
required strength parameter such as undrained cohesion. It is noteworthy that empirical
relationships have often enabled geotechnical engineers to evaluate some important soil
parameters from limited data. Several researchers have correlated the strength properties of
soil with various index properties to obtain empirical relationship. Kim et al. (2017)
correlated the strength and index properties of mixed kaolinite soils by cone penetration and
fall cone tests. Zumrawi & Elnour (2016) predicted bearing strength characteristics from soil
index properties.Vardanega and Haigh (2014) correlated the logarithnic liquidity index with
the logarithm of undrained shear strength. Also, Obasi & Anyaegbunam (2005) established a
relationship between the undrained strength and plasticity index of tropical clays.

One parameter that can be easily determined from a disturbed clay soil sample is its
Natural Moisture Content. The natural moisture content (w) of the soil gives an indication of
the amount of water present in the soil at its natural state which is defined as the percentage
of the weight of water divided by the weight of soil solids (Das, 2014). Research has shown
that there exists a relationship between the natural moisture content and the strength
parameters of the soil, (Haque et al., 2013; Nguyen and Mohajerani, 2015). However, the
relationship between undrained shear strength and natural moisture content have scarcely
been utilized and studied in predicting soil behaviour, hence, if the shear strength cannot be
measured directly or when its values from the laboratory test are doubtful or non-existent, a

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28 – 30 August, 2018 AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE HUMANITIES & SCIENCES
13th UNILAG ANNUAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE & FAIR 18 ENG 027

good possibility of evaluation would be by the use of an empirical model relating the shear
strength to the natural moisture content of the soil.

In this paper, the relationship between the natural moisture contents and the undrained
cohesion of clay soils were investigated using correlations in order to find a reliable empirical
equation based on a wide range of undisturbed soil samples collected from different sites in
Lagos and its environs.

2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data used in this study was obtained from tests on undisturbed samples obtained
from thirteen different locations within Lagos and its environs during geotechnical
investigations. The data set (see Table 1) from 281 undisturbed soil samples was subjected to
laboratory tests to determine their natural moisture content and undrained cohesion. The
determined parameters were a subset of a larger laboratory test database that included
compressibility test data and other index properties. However, other index soil properties
obtained from laboratory test (Atterberg Limits) were not included in Table 1 because it was
found out from the available data, that the relationship between moisture content and
undrained cohesion was stronger than that of undrained cohesion and other index properties.

The natural moisture content (w) was determined in the laboratory as specified by BS
1377-2 (1990) using the oven drying method, the determined values were expressed as a
percentage of its dry mass. The undrained cohesion was determined from the Triaxial test.
The samples were extruded and trimmed to cylindrical shapes with a height to diameter ratio
of 2:1 and thereafter tested for undrained shear strength in the Triaxial test apparatus in
accordance with BS 1377-8 (1990).

A graphical plot between the two soil parameters was used to establish empirical
models between the undrained cohesion values and their corresponding natural moisture
contents. The coefficient of determination (R2) was used to evaluate the quality of the
relationship between the two parameters. The higher the value of R2, the higher the quality of
the relationship between the two parameters (Akayuli & Ofosu, 2013). Figure 1 show the
plotted graphs for the determination of R2 for exponential, linear, logarithmic and power
relationships.

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28 – 30 August, 2018 AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE HUMANITIES & SCIENCES
13th UNILAG ANNUAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE & FAIR 18 ENG 027

Table 1. Summary of Soil Property Data from Undisturbed Soil Samples across various
locations considered

S/N Location Number of Range of Moisture Range of Undrained

Samples Contents (%) Cohesion (kN/m²)

1 Lekki 2 20.5 – 21.7 60 – 65

2 Banana Island, 2 21.8 – 57.2 35 – 70

Ikoyi

3 Iganmu, Surulere 7 13.5 – 65.3 20 – 75

4 Ijegun 1 68.5 25

5 Mende, Maryland 3 17.2 – 67.5 40 – 65

6 Ijanikin 7 17.9 – 70.2 20 – 70

7 Ebute Metta, 4 24.5 – 63.5 35 – 70

Maryland

8 Airport, Ikeja 4 16.3 – 21.6 60 – 80

9 Ijora Badia 19 16.7 – 28.9 68 – 78

10 Unilag, Akoka 62 14.8 – 60.1 45 – 85

11 Osborne 7 25.0 – 150.0 10 – 70

Foreshore, Ikoyi

12 Iwaya 41 14.7 – 66.2 30 – 80

13 Ibefun, Odogbolu 122 17.3 – 71.2 20 – 88

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28 – 30 August, 2018 AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE HUMANITIES & SCIENCES
13th UNILAG ANNUAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE & FAIR 18 ENG 027

3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

100 100
90 90
Undrained Cohesion (kN/m²)

Undrained Cohesion (kN/m²)

80 c= 96.93e-0.016w 80 c = -0.6965w + 83.18
70 R² = 0.8254 70 R² = 0.7630
60 60
50 50
40 40
30 30
20 20
10 10
0 0
0 50 100 150 200 0 50 100 150 200
Natural Moisture Content (%) Natural Moisture Content (%)

(a) (b)

100 100
90 90
Undrained Cohesion (kN/m²)

Undrained Cohesion (kN/m²)

80 c = -28.26ln(w) + 155.75 80 c = 428.11w-0.592

70 R² = 0.7691 70 R² = 0.7333
60 60
50 50
40 40
30 30
20 20
10 10
0 0
0 50 100 150 200 0 50 100 150 200
Natural Moisture Content (%) Natural Moisture Content (%)

(c) (d)

Figure 1. (a) Exponential relationship between undrained cohesion and moisture content

(b) Linear relationship between undrained cohesion and moisture content

(c) Logarithmic relationship between undrained cohesion and moisture content

(d) Power relationship between undrained cohesion and moisture content

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28 – 30 August, 2018 AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE HUMANITIES & SCIENCES
13th UNILAG ANNUAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE & FAIR 18 ENG 027

Table 2. Summary of equations relating Undrained Cohesion and Natural Moisture Content

S/N. Equation Form Equation R² Value

1 Exponential c = 96.93e-0.016w 0.8254
2 Linear c = -0.6965w + 83.18 0.7630
3 Logarithmic c = -28.26ln(w) + 155.75 0.7691
4 Power c = 428.11w-0.592 0.7333

Where:

c = Undrained Cohesion (kN/m²)

w = Natural Moisture Content (%)

Graphs showing the relationship between these two soil parameters were plotted and
necessary equations were generated to propose an empirical relationship between them. It can
be observed from the results of the study presented in Figure 1 (a – d) and Table 2 that there
is a good correlation between the undrained cohesion and natural moisture content. The
minimum value of moisture content from the data gathered was 13.5 %, while the maximum
value was 150 %. Similarly, the minimum value of undrained cohesion from the data
gathered was 10 kN/m², while the maximum value was 88 kN/m².

The graphical plot on Figure 1 (a) shows an exponential relationship between the
undrained cohesion and natural moisture content. The coefficient of determination (R²) for
the mathematical exponential relationship is 0.8254. Figure 1 (b) shows a linear relationship
with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.7630. Figure 1 (c) depicts a logarithmic
relationship with an equation having a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.7691. While,
Figure 1 (d) depicts a power relationship between undrained cohesion and natural moisture
content with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.7333. A summary of the equations
considered are shown in Table 2.

An evaluation of the various types of mathematical relationship shown from Figure 1

(a) to (d) and Table 2 for the prediction of undrained cohesion from natural moisture content
reveals that the exponential relationship gave the best correlation between the two
parameters. The exponential trend line on Figure 1 (a) cuts across all regions of the plot
almost evenly on either side and the trend line reached areas of high natural moisture contents
in a rational manner than the other forms of mathematical equations generated for prediction.

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28 – 30 August, 2018 AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE HUMANITIES & SCIENCES
13th UNILAG ANNUAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE & FAIR 18 ENG 027

Also, the exponential relationship gave the highest coefficient of determination (R²) with a
value of 0.8254, while the least was 0.7333 for the power relationship. Hence, this shows that
undrained cohesion varies exponentially with natural moisture content and the exponential
relationship that can be used for prediction is therefore given as:

𝒄 = 𝟗𝟔. 𝟗𝟑𝒆−𝟎.𝟎𝟏𝟔𝒘 (1)

Undrained Cohesion (kN/m²)

100
Undrained Cohesion (Lab.) kN/m²

90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Undrained Cohesion (Cal.) kN/m²

Figure 2. The 1:1 Plot comparing the laboratory and calculated values of Undrained Cohesion

Figure 2 shows the comparison between the laboratory values of undrained cohesion
and the calculated values obtained using equation 1 in relation to 1:1 line. The plot shows that
the variation between the laboratory and calculated values are relatively close and therefore
the developed empirical relationship can be used for predicting undrained cohesion values
from natural moisture content.

4.0 CONCLUSION
The relationship between undrained cohesion and natural moisture content has been
studied based on the data gathered from 13 various locations within Lagos and its environs. A
total number of 281 undisturbed soil samples used in this study reveal that the exponential
relationship gives the best empirical expression relating these two important soil parameters
with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.8254.

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28 – 30 August, 2018 AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE HUMANITIES & SCIENCES
13th UNILAG ANNUAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE & FAIR 18 ENG 027

The developed empirical relationship is considered simple and will make it easy for
Geotechnical Engineers to quickly predict undrained cohesion with a basic soil parameter
such as natural moisture content especially where undisturbed samples are not available. This
empirical relationship will also help to save time and cost required to carry out a Triaxial test.
However, obtaining undrained cohesion from the laboratory Triaxial test is still one of the
most reliable ways of obtaining this useful soil parameter.

REFERENCES

Akayuli, C. F. A., & Ofosu, B. (2013). Empirical model for estimating compression index
from physical properties of weathered Birimian phyllites. Electronic Journal of
Geotechnical Engineering, 18 Z, 6135–6144.

BS 1377-2. (1990). Methods of test for soils for civil engineering purposes. Part 2:
Classification tests. British Standards Institution.

BS 1377-8. (1990). Methods of test for Soils for civil engineering purposes Part 8. Shear
strength tests (effective stress). British Standards Institution.

Das, B. M. (2014). Principles of Foundation Engineering (8th Eds). Cengage Learning.

Haque, E., Sayem, H. M., & Imam, M. H. (2013). Evaluation of Some Geo Mechanical
Parameters of the Soil Samples from Evaluation of Some Geo Mechanical Parameters of
the Soil Samples from Ganakbari Area , Dhaka , Bangladesh, (September).

Kim, H., Lee, J., Park, T., Moon, S., & Tanvir, M. T. (2017). Correlation between strength
and index properties of mixed kaolinite soils by cone penetration and fall cone tests,
(August).

Nguyen, B. T., & Mohajerani, A. (2015). Prediction of California Bearing Ratio from
Physical Properties of Fine-Grained Soils, 9(2), 136–141.

Obasi, N. L., & Anyaegbunam, A. J. (2005). Correlation of the Undrained Shear Strength and
Plasticity Index of Tropical Clays. Nigerian Journal of Technology, 24(2), 1–11.

Vardanega, P. J., & Haigh, S. K. (2014). The undrained strength – liquidity index
relationship. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 5(19), 1073–1086.
https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2013-0169

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 13th UNILAG ANNUAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE & FAIR 18 ENG 027

Zumrawi, M. M. E., & Elnour, H. (2016). Predicting bearing strength characteristics from
soil index properties. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 7(2).

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