One-dimensional cyclic loading tests on saturated and unsaturated sand-clay mixtures

Abstract

A series of one-dimensional cyclic loading tests are carried out on three different proportions of Sydney sand – kaolin mixtures, at various initial degrees of saturation. The settlement of the samples throughout the tests is accurately monitored. The effects of the degree of saturation and frequency of the cyclic load on the evolution of the settlement during the tests are thoroughly investigated for each mixture. The settlement patterns are compared to those of saturated samples to highlight the effect of soil suction on the behaviour. The results show that soil settlement decreases while the time required for the completion of the primary consolidation increases with the decrease in the degree of saturation of the soil. This trend is more pronounced in soils with higher kaolin content. The loading frequency, however, seems to have negligible effects on the settlement behaviour of unsaturated soils under cyclic loading. The result of the study provides valuable data for future simulations and validations of various constitutive models.