Abstract
This study presents the results of plate load tests conducted on an unsaturated silty sand. The soil samples were subjected to wetting and drying, by raising and lowering of the water table, to mimic conditions which exist in the field. The suction values at different depths were measured by the vibrating wire piezometers. The effects of hydraulic loading histories, soil densities and suctions on the ultimate bearing capacity were studied. An equation was developed to interpret the experimental results based on the relative density dependent peak friction angles and suction profiles. The estimated bearing capacities agree well with the values measured in the plate load tests and the differences can be partly attributed to the superposition of the bearing capacity factors.
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