The Triaxial Compression Test, Research Paper Example

Introduction

The Triaxial Compression Test conducted provided results of Unconsolidated Drained Soil on a Non-cohesive Soil.  The average soil sample was 51.6mm in diameter and roughly 93mm in length.  The soil for this experiment was Ottawa Sand. This test is used to determine the strength of the soil by controlling the soil’s drainage.  This test was used with three cell pressures to determine the strength and drainage of the soil.  These pressures were 150kPa, 300kPa and 450kPa.  After the test is given, the strength of the soil and the drainage capacity of the soil is determined.

Procedure

The specific procedure for this test is located at http://spin.mohawkcollege.ca/courses/smeatonk/CV504%20PDFs/Lab%20Manual/Triaxial%20Compression%20Test%202%20Procedure.pdf

Unfortunately, there have been some problems with performing the test.  For instance, when the sample was tested with the 300kPa cell pressure nothing happened during the first try and it actually had to be repeated during the lab.  We determined that the sample soil had not been vacuumed long enough and compacted accordingly which caused the sample soil to maintain its original strength during the test.  Again, during the second trial attempt the soil showed very low readings.  We discovered that there was a small hole and the membrane needed to be replaced to reduce the leakage for the remainder of the tests.

Conclusions

The final results have been tabulated and recorded.  Because the 300kPa cell pressure had problems during the test, we were forced to consider it as an outliner for the Mohr’s Circles Plot in order not to skew the results.  The Stress value for the 450kPa cell pressure is much larger than the other two cell pressures.  However, both of the Dry Density values for the 150kPa and 450kPa are very close to the same valuee.  On the other hand, the 300kPa Dry Density is higher. Figure 1.4 will also show that c’ equaled 35.4 and ? equaled 39.5°.  The curve for the stress and percent strain of each individual test can be located within figures Figure 1.1 to 1.3.