Interpretation and Comparison of Collapse Measurement Techniques

Abstract

The collapse potential of a soil can be measured directly by using simple laboratory or field tests. It has been demonstrated that stress-strain curves from laboratory response-to-wetting tests can be used to obtain reasonable estimates of strain and settlement upon wetting. When field plate load tests are used to determine soil collapsibility, the stress-strain relationship is often not evaluated. In this paper the advantages of developing a stress-strain relationship from plate load tests for estimating colaspe settlement are discussed, and a test procedure and analysis for in-situ collapse testing are addressed. Laboratory and field methods for assessing collapse potential are compared.