Verification of unified effective stress theory based on the effect of moisture on mechanical properties of fiber reinforced unsaturated soil

Abstract

The unified effective stress theory based on suction stress (SSCC theory) enables the characterization of soils under both saturated and unsaturated conditions with one closed-form relationship. This study provides experimental verification of this theory through the unconfined compressive strength test (UCS) and indirect tensile test strength (ITS) on silty clay soil stabilized with fiber. A series of matric suction, ITS, and UCS tests were conducted to validate the SSCC theory through the representation of the results of ITS and UCS tests in terms of mean total stress (p) versus deviatoric stress (q) and mean effective stress (p`) versus deviatoric stress (q). The results of the validation procedures showed that the SSCC theory is applicable and valid at a range of 6%–16% of water content on the silty clay and the silty clay fiber-reinforced soils. There is a small fluctuation in the increase of ITS and UCS values with increasing fiber content due to randomly oriented distribution of the fiber. The addition of glass fiber does not significantly affect the capacity of water retention of the soil. It improves the condition of the mechanical soil properties at the end of construction more than of the effective stress condition.