Variation of the mechanical properties of a soil at different states of saturation
Introduction: This article is the product of the research “Variation of the mechanical properties of a soil at different states of saturation”, developed at the National University of San Agustín, located in the city of Arequipa and carried out during 2016.
Problem: In most urban areas the water table is below the foundation level; therefore, the soil is dry or partiall saturated. In such areas, it is necessary to perform tests to obtain the geotechnical parameters of the soil,
taking into account the degree of saturation of the soil.
Objective: To perform one-dimensional consolidation and direct shear tests at different percentages of saturation.
Methodology: To characterize the mechanical properties of a soil according to its saturation state, carrying out 4 unidimensional consolidation tests at different saturation percentages of 0.00%, 65.71%, 80.56% and 100% and 4 direct cutting tests at different saturation percentages of 0.00%, 20%, 40% and 100%. For these tests, unaltered clay samples were extracted.
Results: The results obtained from the mechanical characterization at different degrees of saturation influence the resistance to settlement and shear of the soil. Taking that into account, when comparing both resistances of the soil under study, the resistance to deformation decreased more than the resistance to shear.
Conclusions: When comparing soils, considering that the geotechnical parameters of the soils at each degree of saturation vary considerably, it is important to perform mechanical tests to the soil, taking into account the natural moisture and not to test them in their critical or saturated state because their mechanical properties will be different, and this will directly affect the design of the foundations of the structure and, therefore, in the
final cost of it.
Originality: For the calculation of the mechanical parameters of the soil, the regulations describe that it should be done when the soil is in its saturated state, but the mechanical properties of the soil vary at different states of saturation. For this reason, this research reveals the change that occurs in the mechanical properties of the soil when it is dry to when it is saturated.
Limitations: the model did not consider the influence of the contractile membrane to obtain the results of the
geotechnical parameters studied.
Copyright (c) 2021 Ingeniería Solidaria
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Cession of rights and ethical commitment
As the author of the article, I declare that is an original unpublished work exclusively created by me, that it has not been submitted for simultaneous evaluation by another publication and that there is no impediment of any kind for concession of the rights provided for in this contract.
In this sense, I am committed to await the result of the evaluation by the journal Ingeniería Solidaría before considering its submission to another medium; in case the response by that publication is positive, additionally, I am committed to respond for any action involving claims, plagiarism or any other kind of claim that could be made by third parties.
At the same time, as the author or co-author, I declare that I am completely in agreement with the conditions presented in this work and that I cede all patrimonial rights, in other words, regarding reproduction, public communication, distribution, dissemination, transformation, making it available and all forms of exploitation of the work using any medium or procedure, during the term of the legal protection of the work and in every country in the world, to the Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia Press.
