Name: Angela Nicole Dollete

Year & Course: BSCE 3A

Part II. Discuss three main types of tests that can be conducted with triaxial equipment.
Kindly discuss each test in no more than 150 words.

1. Consolidated-drained test (CD test)

Consolidated-drained test (CD Test) begins with a saturation stage, followed by a

consolidation stage, and ending with a very slow shear stage. It used to determine the
drained shear strength of a soil sample that has been previously consolidated. It is the
longest type of triaxial test due to the slow consolidation and shear stages. The pore water
pressure in the sample is drained during the test and the sample is subjected to an
increasing confining pressure while the axial stress is maintained constant. CD triaxial
tests are best for determining long-term geotechnical engineering problems.

2. Consolidated-undrained test (CU test)

In Consolidated-undrained test (CU test) the sample is saturated before testing

begins and excess pore pressure dissipation during consolidation to reach equilibrium
condition is allowed, same as CD. However CU triaxial test aims to bring the sample as
close as possible to conditions at its natural state in the ground. Throughout the test, the
pore water pressure is kept constant. This test is performed to determine the soil’s shear
strength and its behavior under undrained conditions.

3. Unconsolidated-undrained test (UU test)

Unconsolidated-undrained test (UU test) is used to determine the undrained shear

strength of a soil sample that has been previously consolidated. The sample is subjected
to an increasing confining pressure, while the axial stress is maintained constant, and the
pore water pressure is allowed to change freely. UU test has a big advantage for there is
no saturation stage and stress is applied quickly, so it can be completed in less that half
an hour. As a result, it is sometimes called a ‘Quick Undrained’ test. This test is usually
performed on saturated soil samples to understand the soil’s behavior under undrained
condition which makes it a rather approximate method to determine a soil’s mechanical
properties.