Quantitative Analysis of Generalized Suction on the Shear Strength of Unsaturated Soils

Abstract

Taking the shear strength as the characteristic index to measure the strength of the soil, a characteristic parameter is established that can describe the contact distance between the surface of soil particles—the mean value of particle contact density. Using the indoor direct shear test of the preset scheme, the first-hand test data that three different factors such as moisture content, dry density and grain size quantitatively affect the shear strength of soil are obtained. Through the establishment of the quantitative relationship between the mean value of particle contact density and the shear strength, the theoretical description of the influence law that several key elements such as moisture content, void ratio, gradation, and particle size on the shear strength of unsaturated soil is realized, and the theoretical description and quantitative analysis of the influence of generalized suction on the shear strength of unsaturated soils are also completed.