Effect of pore-size distribution on saturated shear strength of residual soil

• Main Author: Eng, Aik How
• Other Authors: Harianto Rahardjo
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Civil engineering::Geotechnical
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/15893
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Residual soils are formed from weathered rocks and are usually under unsaturated conditions. Pore-size distribution controls the engineering properties of the soil and it is an important aspect in Geotechnical Engineering. Laboratory experiments to investigate how pore-size distribution (PSD) affects saturated shear strength of residual soils were conducted. Tempe cell, triaxial, pressure plate and salt solution tests are carried out to obtain the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) of granitic Bukit Timah formation in Singapore. Index property and consolidated undrained triaxial tests on saturated samples are also performed. The results show that a larger pore-size distribution indicates a lower degree of weathering and this condition leads to stronger cementation of the soil particles. Therefore, cohesion (which contributes to the overall shear strength) is higher for residual soils with a larger pore-size distribution.