UNSAT 2023, 8th International Conference on Unsaturated Soils

Evaluation of the Unsaturated Shear Strength

Parameters of Compacted, Heaving Soil Using
Geotechnical Properties
Mr. Armand Augustin Fondjo
Prof. Elizabeth Theron
Prof. Richard P. Ray

Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa

Department of Civil Engineering
1
 Introduction

Objective

Methods

Laboratory
Content tests results

Estimated
models
Models
validation

Conclusion
2
 Introduction
The shear strength is a fundamental property that governs the stability of soil material under structural
loads. It is required to determine the shear strength parameters and stiffness of soil support in foundation
design.
Terzaghi (1936) τs = c' + (σn − uw) tan (ϕ') (1)

Fredlund and Rahardjo (1993) τu = c' + (σn − ua) tan (ϕ') + (ua− uw) tan (ϕb) (2)

Blight (2013) reported that several tests are needed to establish the strength variation with matric suction.
A long time is required to achieve the matric suction equilibrium in soil specimens before testing
Chen et al. (2012); Roy and Dass (2014) proposed models to predict the shear strength of saturated soils.

Little consideration was given to model to predict the unsaturated shear strength of compacted heaving
soil. The development of a geotechnical predictive model for unsaturated shear strength characteristics is
necessary to address the problem.

3
 Objectives
This study attempts to propose predictive models to evaluate the unsaturated shear strength parameters of
compacted heaving soil. The parameters include the angle of internal friction associated with the net
normal stress (ϕ'), angle indicating the rate of increase in shear strength with respect to a change in matric
suction (ϕb) , and effective cohesion (c').

4
 Methods
Laboratory testing

Particle size Consistency Specific Swelling test Modified Proctor Suction Triaxial
distribution limits gravity FSI (IS: 2720-part 40) compaction test Test testing
SANS 3001-GR10 FSR (Sridharan & SANS 3001-GR30 ASTM
SANS 3001-GR2 ASTM D 854 CU
Prakash, 2000) D 5298-16
SANS 3001-GR3 ASTM
D4767- 99

Models design for (ϕ'), (ϕb), and (c')

Multivariate analysis on lab data using

Models validation for (ϕ'), (ϕb), and (c')
NCSS 12 Software

Probability values Measured vs Predicted Predicted values vs Other

(p-value) values existing models
for (ϕ'), (ϕb), and (c') for (ϕ'), (ϕb), and (c') for (ϕ'), (ϕb), and (c')
5
 Methods
The geotechnical models were designed using NCSS 12 Software. The model selection was conducted by
testing different models, including logarithmic, quadratic, linear, cubic, power, and exponential. It was
found that the linear model displays a higher strength correlation and best-fitting equation. Johnson (2017)
reported that the predictive multi-linear model takes the form of Equation 3.
Y = + ξo + [ ξi×Zi] + ε (3)
Where:

Y= outcome variable
ξo= intercept
ξi= regression coefficients, i=1,2,3, …n
Zi= covariates, i=1,2,3, …n
n= number of covariates
ε= random error term

6
Laboratory test results
Table 1. Material properties

Table 2. Swelling potential test results

7
Laboratory test results
Table 3. Suction test results

8
 Laboratory test results
Table 4. Unsaturated shear strength parameters

9
 Estimated models

Table 5. P-value of unsaturated shear strength parameters

10
 Estimated models
Predictive model (ϕ')

(ϕ')λ= - ξo- ξ1W+ ξ2Gs+ξ3 PI- ξ4LL- ξ5Clay- ξ6Fine (4)

Where:
ϕ' (°) = angle of internal friction associated with the
net normal stress
W (%) = gravimetric water content
Gs = specific gravity
PI (%) = plasticity index
LL (%) = liquid limit
Fine (%) = fine content
Clay (%) = clay content
λ= Box-cox transformation,
ξo = intercept
ξi = multivariate coefficients, i= 1, 2.…6.

11
 Estimated models
Predictive model (ϕb)

(ϕb)λ=+ηo- η1W+η2Gs-η3 Fine+ η4LL-η5 γd (5)

Where:
ϕb (°)= angle indicating the rate of increase of
shear strength for a change in matric
suction
W (%) = gravimetric water content
Gs = specific gravity
LL (%) = liquid limit
Fine (%) = fine content
γd (kN.m-3) = dry unit weight
λ= Box-cox transformation
ηo= intercept
ηi= multivariate coefficients, i= 1, 2,…5

12
 Estimated models
Predictive model (c')

(c')λ= - ζo - ζ1W- ζ2Fine + ζ3 GS- ζ4LL+ ζ5 PI (6)

Where:
c' (kPa)= effective cohesion
W (%) = gravimetric water content
Gs = specific gravity
PI (%) = plasticity index
LL (%) = liquid limit
Fine (%) = fine content
λ= Box-cox transformation,
ζo = intercept
ζi = multivariate coefficients, i= 1, 2,….5.

13
 Estimated models

Table 6. Models summary and coefficients

14
 Models validation
Validation of predictive model (ϕ')

Figure 1. Measured vs predicted values of (ϕ') Figure 2. Measured vs predicted values of (ϕ )

Model Chen et al. (2012)

15
 Models validation
Validation of predictive model (ϕb)

Figure 3. Measured vs predicted values of (ϕb)

16
 Models validation
Validation of predictive model (c')

Figure 4. Measured vs predicted values of (c ) Figure 5. Measured vs predicted values of (c )

Model Chen et al. (2012)

17
 Conclusion

The research work clearly illustrates that the three geotechnical predictive models designed in
this study are efficient tools to predict the unsaturated shear strength parameters of compacted
heaving soil with acceptable precision, and reduce the cost and time required for laboratory
testing. These parameters include the angle of internal friction associated with the net normal
stress (ϕ'), angle indicating the rate of increase in shear strength with respect to a change in
matric suction (ϕb), and effective cohesion (c').

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 References
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