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responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- method shall be in accordance with Terminology D 653.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 3.2.1 back pressure—a pressure applied to the specimen
pore-water to cause air in the pore space to compress and to
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
2
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.05 on Strength and For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Compressibility of Soils. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2004. Published December 2004. Originally Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
approved in 1988. Last previou edition approved in 2002 as D 4767 – 02. the ASTM website.
NOTE 3—A loading device may be judged to produce sufficiently small effective consolidation stress and the back pressure. It shall
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vibrations if there are no visible ripples in a glass of water placed on the consist of a top plate and a base plate separated by a cylinder.
loading platform when the device is operating at the speed at which the
test is performed.
The cylinder may be constructed of any material capable of
withstanding the applied pressures. It is desirable to use a
5.3 Axial Load-Measuring Device—The axial load- transparent material or have a cylinder provided with viewing
measuring device shall be a load ring, electronic load cell, ports so the behavior of the specimen may be observed. The top
hydraulic load cell, or any other load-measuring device capable
plate shall have a vent valve such that air can be forced out of
of the accuracy prescribed in this paragraph and may be a part
the chamber as it is filled. The baseplate shall have an inlet
of the axial loading device. The axial load-measuring device
shall be capable of measuring the axial load to an accuracy of through which the pressure liquid is supplied to the chamber,
within 1 % of the axial load at failure. If the load-measuring and inlets leading to the specimen base to the cap to allow
device is located inside the triaxial compression chamber, it saturation and drainage of the specimen when required. The
shall be insensitive to horizontal forces and to the magnitude of chamber shall provide a connection to the cap.
the chamber pressure. 5.5 Axial Load Piston—The piston passing through the top
5.4 Triaxial Compression Chamber—The triaxial chamber of the chamber and its seal must be designed so the variation
shall have a working chamber pressure equal to the sum of the in axial load due to friction does not exceed 0.1 % of the axial
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chamber pressure-, back pressure-, and vacuum-measuring specimen. They shall be constructed of a rigid, noncorrosive,
devices shall be capable of measuring pressures or partial impermeable material, and each shall, except for the drainage
vacuums to the tolerances given in 5.6. They may consist of provision, have a circular plane surface of contact with the
Bourdon gages, pressure manometers, electronic pressure porous disks and a circular cross section. It is desirable for the
transducers, or any other device capable of measuring pres- mass of the specimen cap and top porous disk to be as minimal
sures, or partial vacuums to the stated tolerances. If separate as possible. However, the mass may be as much as 10 % of the
devices are used to measure the chamber pressure and back axial load at failure. If the mass is greater than 0.5 % of the
pressure, the devices must be calibrated simultaneously and applied axial load at failure and greater than 50 g (0.1 lb), the
against the same pressure source. Since the chamber and back axial load must be corrected for the mass of the specimen cap
pressure are the pressures taken at the mid-height of the and top porous disk. The diameter of the cap and base shall be
specimen, it may be necessary to adjust the calibration of the equal to the initial diameter of the specimen. The specimen
devices to reflect the hydraulic head of fluids in the chamber base shall be connected to the triaxial compression chamber to
and back pressure control systems. prevent lateral motion or tilting, and the specimen cap shall be
5.8 Pore-Water Pressure-Measurement Device—The speci- designed such that eccentricity of the piston-to-cap contact
men pore-water pressure shall also be measured to the toler- relative to the vertical axis of the specimen does not exceed 1.3
ances given in 5.6. During undrained shear, the pore-water mm (0.05 in.). The end of the piston and specimen cap contact
pressure shall be measured in such a manner that as little water area shall be designed so that tilting of the specimen cap during
as possible is allowed to go into or out of the specimen. To the test is minimal. The cylindrical surface of the specimen
achieve this requirement, a very stiff electronic pressure base and cap that contacts the membrane to form a seal shall be
transducer or null-indicating device must be used. With an smooth and free of scratches.
electronic pressure transducer the pore-water pressure is read 5.12 Porous Discs—Two rigid porous disks shall be used to
directly. With a null-indicating device a pressure control is provide drainage at the ends of the specimen. The coefficient of
continuously adjusted to maintain a constant level of the permeability of the disks shall be approximately equal to that
water/mercury interface in the capillary bore of the device. The of fine sand (1 3 10−4 cm/s (4 3 10 −5 in./s)). The disks shall
pressure required to prevent movement of the water is equal to be regularly cleaned by ultrasonic or boiling and brushing and
the pore-water pressure. Both measuring devices shall have a checked to determine whether they have become clogged.
compliance of all the assembled parts of the pore-water 5.13 Filter-Paper Strips and Disks— Filter-paper strips are
pressure-measurement system relative to the total volume of used by many laboratories to decrease the time required for
the specimen, satisfying the following requirement: testing. Filter-paper disks of a diameter equal to that of the
~DV/V!/Du < 3.2 3 10 –6 m2 / kN ~2.2 3 10–5 in.2 / lb! (1) specimen may be placed between the porous disks and speci-
men to avoid clogging of the porous disks. If filter strips or
where: disks are used, they shall be of a type that does not dissolve in
DV = change in volume of the pore-water measurement water. The coefficient of permeability of the filter paper shall
system due to a pore pressure change, mm3(in.3), not be less than 1 3 10−5 cm/s (4 3 10−6 cm/s) for a normal
V = total volume of the specimen, mm3(in.3), and pressure of 550 kPa (80 lb/in.2). To avoid hoop tension, filter
periphery. Filter-strip cages have been successfully used by time to the nearest 1 s shall be used to obtain consolidation data
many laboratories. An equation for correcting the principal (8.3.3).
stress difference (deviator stress) for the effect of the strength 5.20 Balance—A balance or scale conforming to the re-
of vertical filter strips is given in 10.4.3.1. quirements of Specification D 4753 readable (with no estimate)
to 0.1 % of the test mass or better.
NOTE 7—Whatman’s No. 54 Filter Paper has been found to meet the 5.21 Water Deaeration Device—The amount of dissolved
permeability and durability requirements.
gas (air) in the water used to saturate the specimen shall be
5.14 Rubber Membrane—The rubber membrane used to decreased by boiling, by heating and spraying into a vacuum,
encase the specimen shall provide reliable protection against or by any other method that will satisfy the requirement for
leakage. Membranes shall be carefully inspected prior to use saturating the specimen within the limits imposed by the
and if any flaws or pinholes are evident, the membrane shall be available maximum back pressure and time to perform the test.
discarded. To offer minimum restraint to the specimen, the 5.22 Testing Environment—The consolidation and shear
unstretched membrane diameter shall be between 90 and 95 % portion of the test shall be performed in an environment where
of that of the specimen. The membrane thickness shall not temperature fluctuations are less than 64°C (67.2°F) and there
exceed 1 % of the diameter of the specimen. The membrane is no direct contact with sunlight.
shall be sealed to the specimen cap and base with rubber 5.23 Miscellaneous Apparatus—Specimen trimming and
O-rings for which the unstressed inside diameter is between 75 carving tools including a wire saw, steel straightedge, miter
and 85 % of the diameter of the cap and base, or by other box, vertical trimming lathe, apparatus for preparing com-
means that will provide a positive seal. An equation for pacted specimens, membrane and O-ring expander, water
correcting the principal stress difference (deviator stress) for content cans, and data sheets shall be provided as required.
the effect of the stiffness of the membrane is given in 10.4.3.2.
6. Test Specimen Preparation
5.15 Valves—Changes in volume due to opening and clos-
ing valves may result in inaccurate volume change and 6.1 Specimen Size—Specimens shall be cylindrical and
pore-water pressure measurements. For this reason, valves in have a minimum diameter of 33 mm (1.3 in.). The average
the specimen drainage system shall be of the type that produce height-to-average diameter ratio shall be between 2 and 2.5. An
minimum volume changes due to their operation. A valve may individual measurement of height or diameter shall not vary
be assumed to produce minimum volume change if opening or from average by more than 5 %. The largest particle size shall
closing the valve in a closed, saturated pore-water pressure be smaller than 1⁄6 the specimen diameter. If, after completion
system does not induce a pressure change of greater than 0.7 of a test, it is found based on visual observation that oversize
kPa (60.1 lb/in.2). All valves must be capable of withstanding particles are present, indicate this information in the report of
applied pressures without leakage. test data (11.2.23).
NOTE 10—If oversize particles are found in the specimen after testing,
NOTE 8—Ball valves have been found to provide minimum volume- a particle-size analysis may be performed on the tested specimen in
change characteristics; however, any other type of valve having suitable accordance with Test Method D 422 to confirm the visual observation and
volume-change characteristics may be used. the results provided with the test report (11.2.4).
5.16 Specimen-Size Measurement Devices— Devices used 6.2 Undisturbed Specimens—Prepare undisturbed speci-
to determine the height and diameter of the specimen shall mens from large undisturbed samples or from samples secured
measure the respective dimensions to within 60.1 % of the in accordance with Practice D 1587 or other acceptable undis-
total dimension and shall be constructed such that their use will turbed tube sampling procedures. Samples shall be preserved
not disturb the specimen. and transported in accordance with the practices for Group C
NOTE 9—Circumferential measuring tapes are recommended over cali- samples in Practices D 4220. Specimens obtained by tube
pers for measuring the diameter. sampling may be tested without trimming except for cutting the
end surfaces plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of
5.17 Recorders—Specimen behavior may be recorded the specimen, provided soil characteristics are such that no
manually or by electronic digital or analog recorders. If significant disturbance results from sampling. Handle speci-
electronic recorders are used, it shall be necessary to calibrate mens carefully to minimize disturbance, changes in cross
the measuring devices through the recorder using known input section, or change in water content. If compression or any type
standards. of noticeable disturbance would be caused by the extrusion
5.18 Sample Extruder—The sample extruder shall be ca- device, split the sample tube lengthwise or cut the tube in
pable of extruding the soil core from the sampling tube at a suitable sections to facilitate removal of the specimen with
uniform rate in the same direction of travel as the sample minimum disturbance. Prepare trimmed specimens, in an
entered the tube and with minimum disturbance of the sample. environment such as a controlled high-humidity room where
If the soil core is not extruded vertically, care should be taken soil water content change is minimized. Where removal of
to avoid bending stresses on the core due to gravity. Conditions pebbles or crumbling resulting from trimming causes voids on
at the time of sample removal may dictate the direction of the surface of the specimen, carefully fill the voids with
removal, but the principal concern is to minimize the degree of remolded soil obtained from the trimmings. If the sample can
disturbance. be trimmed with minimal disturbance, a vertical trimming lathe
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problem is minimized by using a long (>5 m) tube that is impermeable to leak in that part of the pore pressure measurement system
air between the air-water interface and test specimen, by separating the located outside of the chamber.
back-pressure water from the air by a material or fluid that is relatively
8.2.4.3 Calculate the B-value using Eq 2.
impermeable to air, by periodically replacing the back-pressure water with
deaired water, or by other means. 8.2.4.4 Reapply the same effective consolidation stress as
NOTE 16—Although the pore pressure Parameter B is used to determine existed prior to the B-value by reducing the chamber pressure
adequate saturation, the B-value is also a function of soil stiffness. If the by 70 kPa (10 lb/in.2) or by alternatively, increasing the back
saturation of the sample is 100 %, the B-value measurement will increase pressure by 70 kPa. If B is continuing to increase with
with decreasing soil stiffness. Therefore, when testing soft soil samples, a
increasing back pressure, continue with back pressure satura-
B-value of 95 % may indicate a saturation less than 100 %.
NOTE 17—The back pressure required to saturate a compacted speci- tion. If B is equal to or greater than 0.95 or if a plot of B versus
men may be higher for the wet mounting method than for the dry back pressure indicates no further increase in B with increasing
mounting method and may be as high as 1400 kPa (200 lb/in.2). back pressure, initiate consolidation.
NOTE 18—Many laboratories use differential pressure regulators and 8.3 Consolidation—The objective of the consolidation
transducers to achieve the requirements for small differences between
phase of the test is to allow the specimen to reach equilibrium
chamber and back pressure.
in a drained state at the effective consolidation stress for which
8.2.4 Measurement of the Pore Pressure Parameter a strength determination is required. During consolidation, data
B—Determine the value of the pore pressure Parameter B in is obtained for use in determining when consolidation is
accordance with 8.2.4.1 through 8.2.4.4. The pore pressure complete and for computing a rate of strain to be used for the
Parameter B is defined by the following equation: shear portion of the test. The consolidation procedure is as
B 5 Du/Ds 3 (2) follows:
8.3.1 When the saturation phase of the test is completed, 8.3.3 Obtain an initial burette reading, and, then, open
bring the axial load piston into contact with the specimen cap, appropriate drainage valves so that the specimen may drain
and record the reading on the deformation indicator to three from both ends into the burette. At increasing intervals of
significant digits. During this procedure, take care not to apply elapsed time (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, and 30 min and at 1,
an axial load to the specimen exceeding 0.5 % of the estimated 2, 4, and 8 h, and so forth) observe and record the burette
axial load at failure. After recording the reading, raise the readings, and, after the 15-min reading, record the accompa-
piston a small distance above the specimen cap, and lock the nying deformation indicator readings obtained by carefully
piston in place. bringing the piston in contact with the specimen cap. If burette
8.3.2 With the specimen drainage valves closed, hold the and deformation indicator readings are to be plotted against the
maximum back pressure constant and increase the chamber square root of time, the time intervals at which readings are
pressure until the difference between the chamber pressure and taken may be adjusted to those that have easily obtained square
the back pressure equals the desired effective consolidation roots, for example, 0.09, 0.25, 0.49, 1, 4, and 9 min, and so
pressure. Consolidation in stages is required when filter strips forth. Depending on soil type, time intervals may be changed
for radial drainage are used, and the load increment ratio shall to convenient time intervals which allow for adequate defini-
not exceed two. tion of volume change versus time.
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where: where:
Vo = initial volume of specimen, P = given applied axial load (corrected for uplift and
DVc = change in volume of specimen during consolida- piston friction if required as obtained in 8.4.1.3), and
tion as indicated by burette readings, and A = corresponding cross-sectional area.
DVsat = change in volume of specimen during saturation 10.4.3.1 Correction for Filter-Paper Strips— For vertical
as follows: filter-paper strips which extend over the total length of the
DVsat = 3Vo[DHs/H o] specimen, apply a filter-paper strip correction to the computed
values of the principal stress difference (deviator stress), if the
where: error in principal stress difference (deviator stress) due to the
DHs = change in height of the specimen during saturation. strength of the filter-paper strips exceeds 5 %.
10.3.2.2 Method B: (1) For values of axial strain above 2 %, use the following
Ac 5 ~Vwf 1 V s! / Hc (6) equation to compute the correction:
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SUMMARY OF CHANGES
In accordance with Committee D18 policy, this section identifies the location of changes made to this standard
since the last edition (2002) that may impact the use of this standard.
(1) The cap connection was changed to be a requirement of the (4) Note 15 was made 7.2.1.3, making wetting of filter paper
chamber equipment in 5.4, rather than a requirement specific to disks mandatory when using the wet mounting method.
the baseplate. (5) In section 8.2.3, references concerning back pressure
(2) Pressure/volume controller were added as acceptable saturation were provided. An associated figure was added as
vacuum control devices in 5.6. Figure 3. subsequent sections, notes, and figures were renum-
(3) A requirement was added for isolating air/water interfaces bered.
(if used) from the pressure systems in 5.6. (6) Footnotes 3, 4, and 5 were added.
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