Effect of Ambient Temperature Variation on Triaxial Shear Testing of Sands

Abstract

Abstract Triaxial shear tests are often carried out in a temperature controlled laboratory environment, and a few degrees change in ambient temperature are often neglected or considered to have negligible effect on the experiment. In this study, the effect of the ambient temperature fluctuation on volume and pore water pressure measurements is investigated for triaxial testing of sand samples. The experimental results show that even few degrees (±2°C) variation in temperature can produce relatively large pore water pressures in a saturated soil specimen in triaxial testing. These changes can particularly impact triaxial shear testing results of sands. An analytical procedure is also introduced that reasonably captures temperature-induced volume and pore pressure changes in a triaxial sample. The analytical method is then used for a parametric study of the mechanisms involved in temperature-induced effects.