Importance of the Triaxial Experiment - Lab Report Example

SOIL TESTS The triaxial experiment was carried to find out the material’s angle of shearing, which is or t; and the undrained shearing strength, which is represented by cu. The tests were carried for both the consolidated and undrained tests at three different cell pressures. The cu and or t were found from the Mohr circle to be 45 kPa and 31.3 respectively. The result was near the theoretical value; hence the results can be used by engineers in planning for structures. In addition, consolidation, constant, and falling head tests were carried. The permeability, head tests, calculations avail the seepage rates via earth dams in real applications. Introduction The triaxial test is highly reliable since both the undrained and drained shear strengths are measured. Specimens of approximately 1.4” diameter and 3” tall were used by encasing using thin rubber membrane and the setting of the plastic cylindrical chamber. The cell pressure was applied to the chamber, representing σ3’ via cell fluid pressurizing, mainly water. The vertical stresses were increased via loading of the specimen, through raising of the platen, and through the addition of loads directly. The total material vertical stress, which is σ1’, is obtained from the sum of deviator stress and σ3’. The measurement of deviator, pore pressure, and axial deformation were recorded. The objective of the experiment, triaxial test, was out the material’s angle of shearing, that is or t; and the undrained shearing strength, which is represented by cu via the consolidated undrained triaxial test. The engineering strength of the soil materials was analyzed via the triaxial apparatus. The triaxial test is done in the cell and is usually named as such since there are three principal stresses that are applied to any soil sample. From the test, two of the major or principal stresses are exerted on the sample through water pressure found in the inside the confining cell, and are normally equal; a third major or principal stress is usually exerted by the loading ram via the top of the set-up cell and hence might be varying from the other two major or principal stresses. The purpose for constant head material test was to determine the soil specimen permeability, that is hydraulic conductivity, via the constant head test method; this is a routine permeability test done in the laboratory to soils that are permeable, having k>10-4 cm/s. Permeability indicates easiness in which water can flow via a soil; a property necessary in calculations of seepage via under sheet pile or earth dam walls, and the rate calculations for clayey soil deposits settlements. The purpose of falling head material test was to determine the soil specimen permeability via the falling head test method; this is a routine permeability test done in the laboratory for soils that are less permeable, having k Read More