The testing of unsaturated soils requires greater care and effort than that of saturated soils. Although unsaturated soil mechanics has been embraced by geotechnical engineering, engineering practice has not yet caught up as the characterization of unsaturated soils is difficult and time-consuming, and made harder still by a lack of standards.
Laboratory Tests for Unsaturated Soils collates test procedures to cover all laboratory tests for characterising unsaturated soils. It covers the background, theory, test procedures, and interpretation of test results. Each test procedure is broken down into simple stages and described in detail. The pitfalls of each test and the interpretation of the test results are explained. Test data and calculation methods are given, along with many numerical examples to illustrate the methods of interpretation and to offer the presentation of typical results.
The book is especially useful for students and researchers who are new to the field and provides a practical handbook for engineering applications.
1. Introduction.
2. Basic Definitions, Test Environment and General Apparatuses.
3. Chapter 3 Sampling, Storage and Sample Preparation.
4. Grain Size Distribution, and Specific Gravity.
5. Atterberg Limits and Shrinkage Test.
6. Compaction.
7. Suction Measurement.
8. Matric Suction Measurement – Direct Methods.
9. Indirect Suction Measurement Methods.
10. Soil-Water Characteristic Curve.
11. Permeability: Steady-State Methods.
12. Permeability: Transient- State Methods.
13. Oedometer test.
14. Constant rate of strain test.
15. Triaxial Test (Volume Change).
16. Direct Shear Test.
17. Triaxial Test (Shear Strength).
18. Ring Shear Test.
19. Tension Test.
20. Wave Velocities.
21. Thermal Conductivity.
Appendix A. Gossary of Terms.
Appendix B. Formulas and Conversion Factors.
Biography
Eng-Choon Leong is an associate professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He has more than 350 publications in international journals and conferences. He is a recipient of the 2004 ASTM Best Practical Paper for Geotechnical Practice Award, and a recipient of the Koh Boon Hwee mentor award. He is lead author of Engineering Students’ Guide for Research Projects and co-editor (with Geoffrey Blight) of the second edition of Mechanics of Residual Soils, both published by CRC Press.
Martin Wijaya is a lecturer at Parahyangan Catholic University. He completed a PhD at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and has worked for a soil investigation company as a geotechnical engineer, having gained considerable experience in site investigation testing and analyses.
