Effect of groundwater on strength of loess
1990
Goldwater, S. | Bell, D.H. (Canterbury Univ., Christchurch (New Zealand)) | Elder, D.McG. | Yetton, M.D.
The effects of groundwater on the strength of Banks Peninsula, New Zealand, loess are reviewed. The undrained shear strength, and effective stress parameters c and phi have been investigated in a testing programme. Results of unconfined compression and vane shear testing on remoulded loess from both the C and P layers, at varied moisture contents and dry densities, show that the undrained shear strength is dependent on both moisture content and dry density. Unsaturated C layer loess has a higher undrained strength than P layer loess at the same moisture content and dry density. The vane shear test produced more repeatable and reliable results than the unconfined compression test. Direct shear testing shows that there is no significant difference in the effective stress parameters c (0 kPa) and phi (28.5 degrees) between normally consolidated, remoulded C and P layer material. Apparent high cohesion in in-situ loess may be explained using effective stress parameters by allowing for pore water tension in unsaturated soil, although in the field cementation may also contribute some cohesion
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