An oedometer pressure plate SWCC apparatus

Natalia Perez-Garcia, Sandra Houston, William N. Houston, J. Manuel Padilla

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new oedometer device for SWCC determination has been evaluated by testing a wide range of soil types, and recommendations for best practices for use of this device have been made. The new device allows application and control of the net normal stress, σ-ua, in addition to the matric suction, ua-uw. Thus it can be used to simulate a range of overburden stresses and various other stress states of interest. It also allows the measurement of specimen volume change and the use of a single specimen for determination of the SWCC. The evaluation includes issues of temperature control, air diffusion through high air entry ceramic disks, and study of potential sources of error in water content determination for the SWCC. It is concluded that the new oedometer device can be used to obtain an accurate SWCC for a single specimen up to 1500 kPa. General recommendations for appropriate use of the equipment and corrections to SWCC data obtained using axis translation pressure plate-type devices are made.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)115-123
Number of pages9
JournalGeotechnical Testing Journal
Volume31
Issue number2
StatePublished - Mar 2008

Keywords

  • Pressure plate
  • Soil matric suction
  • Soil-water characteristic curve
  • Unsaturated soil

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

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