ANNEX II

SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR DETERMINATION OF SLAKING OF SOIL SAMPLES

Test Procedures for UU, Dispersive and Slaking Test

(A) Residual Porewater Pressure Measurement by Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) Test on

Single Specimen

1) Trim the test specimen to desire specimen size with 1:2 Ratio (i.e. if Ø50mm, Height = 100mm
or if Ø38mm, Height = 76mm) and keep the excess sample for the following Index
Tests:
a) Water Content of the specimen taken from the inner side of the sample (at/near the test
specimen),
b) Particle Density (Gs),
c) Percent fines passing 0.075mm sieve
d) Atterberg Limits Test
e) Degree of Saturation

2) Before setting up the test specimen, the test equipment should be de-aired.

3) Take measurements of the prepared specimen (size and weight for the determination of density
as required per preparation of UU test and moisture content subsequently). Place the filter
paper and porous stone at the top and bottom of the specimen. The filter paper and porous
stone should be saturated with free water on the surface removed.

4) Set the specimen in the Triaxial Cell and apply a Cell Pressure of 400kPa (or any other Cell
Pressure as specified) for the test.

5) Monitor the Porewater Pressure until stabilized, then record the Porewater Pressure before the
start of test/shearing.

6) Start the UU test/shearing with continuing pore pressure measurement. In order to keep the
specimen intact for slaking test, the test should be terminated when the deviator stress has
reached the maximum value/peak or until the maximum strain is greater than 10%.

7) Upon completion of the UU test, remove the sample from the triaxial machine with care.
Remove the membrane and the free water on the surface of the sample and weigh the sample.
Cut a quarter of the specimen for slaking check. Weigh the rest of the sample and use it to
determine the water content of the UU sample after testing.

(B) Slaking Check

1) Use the quarter of the UU Test specimen, to conduct a slaking check. A glass or transparent
container of adequate size that allows the specimen to be fully submerged with lateral room for
slaking shall be used for the slaking test.

2) Fill up the container with water and start the test by submerging the specimen into water.
Record the start time. Monitor the state of the specimen after 5 mins and thereafter:

a. Monitor until the water has turned cloudy/milky (the specimen has been dispersed in the
water)
b. Monitor for at least 2 hours if the specimen does not disperse.

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 3) A photograph is to be taken after the test. If the test specimen has dispersed in water, a
Dispersive Test may be required to confirm the dispersive classification of the soil.

(C) Dispersive Test (Pinhole Test) – to follow BS 1377-5:1990 or ASTM D4647, Standard Test
Methods for Identification and Classification of Dispersive Clay Soils by the Pinhole Test

1) Cut a specimen of 38mm from the same tube of sample used for UU Test.

2) Assemble the parts of the apparatus as per the procedures set forth on BS 1377-5:1990 or
ASTM D4647and start the test by opening the inlet value to allow water to flow through the
specimen until a steady flowrate with hydraulic head of 50mm. Measure the flowrate (mL/s)
with 5min by observing the time required to fill the 10mL measuring cylinder. Observe and
record the appearance of the water collected in the measuring cylinder.

3) In order to determine the dispersion classification of the specimen during the test
(either ND1, ND2, ND3, ND4, D1 or D2), follow the steps as illustrated in the flowchart shown
in BS 1377: Part 5: 1990.

4) A photograph is to be taken at the end of the test.

(D) Slaking Test

1) A fresh soil specimen will be used for a Slaking Test whenever samples are available. The
specimen to be used will be an undisturbed sample of 1:1 ratio (height versus diameter) taken
from the same UD / Mazier sample tube that is used for UU Test. A glass or transparent
container of adequate size that allows the specimen to be fully submerged with lateral room for
slaking shall be used for the slaking test. A scaled ruler is placed in the container to measure
the height of sample at various stages of the test.

2) Fill up the container with water and start the test by submerging the specimen into water.
Record the start time of the test. Measure the change in height of the specimen over time using
the images of the side view of the specimen taken by a stationary video or camera. When a
camera is used, the interval for monitoring is suggested to be every 1 min within the first 10
mins, every 5mins for the next 30mins, and every 10 mins for the rest of the test.

a. Monitor until the specimen has collapse or until there is no further reduction in the height
of the specimen for at least 6 hours.
b. Monitor for at least 12 hours if the specimen does not slake.

3) Calculate the Degree of Slake as:

Degree of Slake % = (1 – Reduction in the specimen height / Initial height) %

The Degree of Slake is taken as 100% if the specimen slakes completely, or 0% if there is
change of height of the specimen.

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