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VALIDITY CRITERIA OF OEDOMETRIC AND TRIAXIAL TEST RESULTS

Conference Paper · December 2012

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Mohamed Khemissa
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 VALIDITY CRITERIA OF OEDOMETRIC AND TRIAXIAL TEST
RESULTS

Khemissa Mohamed
Geomaterials Development Laboratory, Civil Engineering Department,
Faculty of Technology, M’sila University, P.O. Box 166 Ichbilia 28000 M’sila, Algeria
Corresponding Author: khemissa@univ-msila.dz

Abstract: Oedometric and triaxial tests are very much used in soil mechanics. However, in spite
of their frequency in the world, these tests present some limitations related to remolding due to
sampling process and to implemented experimental procedures. These limitations contribute to
decreasing the resistance and deformability mechanical properties of soils, which condition their
limit and critical states behavior. This paper proposes four validity criteria of oedometric and
triaxial test results (compressibility criterion based on oedometric test results; consolidation,
resistance and rigidity criteria based on triaxial test results) to appreciate the disturbance of test
specimens. Impact of the sample disturbance on yield envelope of clayey soils according to these
validity criteria is then analyzed.

Key words: Clay, oedometer, triaxial, validity criterion, disturbance, limit state, critical state.

Introduction
Experimental study of the behavior of soft clays is frequently carried out by means of conventional oedometric
tests with incremental loading and of standard triaxial tests according to various stress or strain paths. The considerable
success of these tests, in which the effective stress or strain paths followed are known, is due to the fact that they make
it possible to rather correctly describe the behavior of soils and that they are carried out on specimens to which the
principles of continuum mechanics can well apply. They have also significant advantages such as a good definition of
spatial and temporal boundary conditions, a strict control of drainage conditions and a rather precise identification of
mechanical properties of soils. Oedometric and triaxial tests present however some limitations related to remolding due
to sampling process and to experimental procedures described in standards and in other texts of reference, which make
that the interpretation of test results requires certain prudence.
This paper proposes four validity criteria of oedometric and triaxial test results. It aims to appreciating the sample
disturbance and its influence on the limit and critical states behavior of clayey soils and to report which we can draw
from the experimental data available on Guiche clay (Adour valley, France). Table 1 gives the range of variation of
geotechnical characteristics of this natural clay and their mean values.

Table 1. Geotechnical characteristics of Guiche clay (Adour valley, France)

Parameters Symbols Range of variation Mean values

Wet unit weight 3
) 14.8 – 18.0 16.3
Moisture content w (%) 46 – 85 55
Liquid limit w L (%) 48 – 98 68
Plasticity index I p (%) 26 – 61 49
Consistency index I c (%) 10 – 40 28
Content of organic matter C OM (%) - 4.3
In-situ void ratio eo 1.39 – 1.87 1.62
Compression index Cc 0.46 – 0.99 0.74
Swelling index Cs 0.05 – 0.13 0.08
Preconsolidation pressure p (kPa) 40 – 90 70

This natural clay is described as a slightly organic and high plastic silty soft clay (fO-At according to French
classification for soils or CH according to Unified System Classification for Soils). Experimental procedures
implemented in study of the behavior of this natural soft clay, the test program realized and the detailed results obtained
are in publications of Khemissa et al. (1993, 1997). Also, only the test results that appear to be interesting are described
hereafter.

Validity of oedometric test results: Compressibility criterion

 The compressibility and consolidation characteristics of Guiche soft clay (Adour valley, France) were determined
starting from conventional oedometric test results. The tests were performed in accordance with oedometric testing
methods in the Laboratoires des Ponts et Chaussées (LPC) in France (Magnan et al., 1985; Ducasse et al., 1986). An
analysis of the variability of oedometric test results carried out on a homogeneous series of specimens of this same clay
confirmed the cogency of these testing methods (Khemissa and Magnan, 2000).
The compressibility criterion, adopted as a remolding criterion by the LPC testing methods, is defined to validate
the oedometric test results starting from conventional oedometric compressibility tests. It is translated, for a disturbed
specimen, by values of the preconsolidation pressure p rather weak and lower than values of the effective overburden
pressure vo p vo <1. It also translated by values of the compression and
swelling indexes, C c and C s , weaker for a disturbed specimen than for an undisturbed specimen. This criterion is
schematized on figure 1 for two specimens fitting in two samples belonged to the same bore: one undisturbed with
OCR=1.43 (Fig. 1a) and the other disturbed with OCR=0.90 (Fig. 1b).

Validity of triaxial test results

The shear and rupture characteristics of Guiche soft clay (Adour valley, France) were obtained by means of
standard triaxial cells starting from:
isotropically consolidated undrained triaxial compression tests (CIU-tests),
K o -consolidated undrained triaxial compression tests (CK o U-tests),
K o -consolidated and isotropically consolidated undrained triaxial compression tests (CK o IU-tests),
K o -consolidated undrained triaxial extension tests (EK o U-tests),
K o -consolidated and isotropically consolidated undrained triaxial extension tests (EK o IU-tests);
K o being the coefficient of earth pressure at rest. The performed experimental program also comprised, for study of the
limit state behavior of this clay, a series of anisotropically consolidated triaxial tests carried out on specimens subjected
to a loading system of which the stress paths correspond to a constant radial and axial stresses ratios (CAP-tests).
Data analysis was carried out by means of a software developed at the Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées
in France (Khemissa, 1988). This software offers the possibility, inter alia, to correct the errors which can take place
during the acquisition of measurements (errors of instrumental origin or errors due to the operations carried out in
particular at the beginning of each phase of the triaxial test).
The criteria adopted to validate the triaxial test results are described hereafter.

Consolidation criterion

This criterion is defined starting from triaxial test results on specimens reconsolidated with in-situ effective
stresses. It is translated by values of the consolidation volumetric strain vc measured at end-of-reconsolidation as
much higher than the soil is disturbed. Terzaghi et al. (1996) suggest these vc -values for sample quality: <1%
(excellent), 1-2% (good), 2-4% (fair), 4-8% (poor) and >8% (very poor). Figure 2 shows the vc -peak values measured
on each K o -consolidated specimen (CK o U, CK o IU, EK o U and EK o IU -tests) and their quality according to the
consolidation criterion. It can be noted that the specimens characterized by vc -values ranging between 2 and 2.7% can
be considered as fair quality, the others as good to excellent quality.
 Effective normal stress, ' (kPa) Effective normal stress, ' (kPa)
5 50 500 5000 5 50 500 5000
2.0 2.0
OCR=1.43 OCR=0.90

1.5 1.5

1.0 Test n°: 1 1.0 Test n°: 6

Cs=0.10 Cs=0.05
Cc=0.90 Cc=0.55
'p=80 kPa 'p=55 kPa
0.5 0.5

Figure 1. Compressibility criterion

3
1 6
7
4 8
2 5
3
2
2
3
4

1
1

0
CKoIU CKoU EKoIU EKoU
Series of tests

Figure 2. Consolidation criterion

Resistance criterion

This criterion is defined starting from undrained triaxial shear test results. It is translated, for a disturbed specimen,
by values of undrained shear strength S u =( 1 - 3 ) f /2 weaker than those obtained for an intact specimen tested under the
same conditions; ( 1 - 3 ) f being the deviator stress at failure corresponding to peak of shear curve. Figure 3 shows the
variations of S u with effective consolidation stress c for all undrained triaxial shear tests results. It can be noted that
the points located under the line characterizing the normally consolidated state of clay (i.e. critical state line in the
principal plan of stresses) correspond to disturbed specimens. Thus, for a same consolidation state, the disturbed
specimens, even after their K o -consolidation, have undrained shear strength values lower than those of undisturbed
specimens.
Rigidity criterion

This criterion is defined starting from undrained triaxial shear test results. It is translated, for a disturbed specimen,
by values of undrained shear modulus E u weaker than those obtained for an intact specimen tested under the same
conditions; E u being defined as a secant modulus corresponding to 0.5% of axial strain because of uncertainty to
measures taken at the beginning of shear phase and of their representativeness. Figure 4 shows the variations of E u with
effective consolidation stress c for all undrained triaxial shear test results. It can be noted that the points located under
the line characterizing the normally consolidated state of clay (i.e. critical state line in the principal plan of stresses)
correspond to disturbed specimens. Thus, for same consolidation state, the disturbed specimens, even after their K o -
consolidation, have undrained shear modulus values lower than those of undisturbed specimens. We can in addition
think that the disturbance affects the initial soil deformability before affecting significantly its maximum resistance: the
specimens, whose maximum resistance is considered as decreased by the disturbance, have also lower initial rigidities;
the reverse not being necessarily checked.

Impact of the sample disturbance on yield envelope of clayey soils

The analysis of oedometric and triaxial test results obtained on Guiche soft clay (Adour valley, France) made it
possible to define the position of limit state and critical state points corresponding to effective stress paths followed for
all specimens. The preconsolidation pressure being variable with depth, the limit state points corresponding to samples
extracted at various depths do not follow the same limit and critical states curve. This explains undoubtedly the
preconsolidation effect of clay on its limit state characteristics and justifies the use of normalized principal plan of
stresses compared to preconsolidation pressure. In normalized Lambe’s diagram, the limit state points follow an
appreciably elliptic limit state curve, with K o -line as principal axis characterizing the state of in-situ effective stresses of
clay, and -line characterizing the critical state line (Fig. 5). It can be noted that the shear tests, in which specimens
were K o -consolidated, lead to shear strengths higher than those corresponding to other shear tests. However, it is not
certain that this difference can constitute an indication of the quality of a given test compared to another similar test
because each result is associated only with one limit state point. All things in addition equal, it can be affirmed that the
disturbance of specimens can involve a reduction at the same time of undrained shear strength, undrained shear
modulus and preconsolidation pressure of clay. The disturbed specimens are characterized by limit state points located
inside the limit state curve (and not on this one), when they are consolidated under stress lower than the
preconsolidation pressure (overconsolidated state), and by critical state points located under the critical state line (and
not on this one), when they are consolidated under stress higher than the preconsolidation pressure (normally
consolidated state). For the ones, as for the others, only effect of the disturbance can be given as a probable explanation
more especially as these same specimens were declared as disturbed by at least one of the four validity criteria of test
results previously proposed.
100

6
9
3

50 21 CIU
2 11
7 1 8 CKoIU
1 8 10 17
2 4 4 16 20 CKoU
12 6 14 15
4 18 19 EKoIU
13 3 1
7 5
EKoU
EKoU
3 2 5
0
0 50 100 150 200
Effective consolidation stress, 'c (kPa)

Figure 3. Resistance criterion

6
20
9
3
8
8 4
2 21 CIU
7 11
10 10 4
17 CKoIU
1 1
2 18 CKoU
12 6 1 19
3 4 15 EKoIU
14 20 5
13 7 2 16 EK oU
EKoU
3 5
0
0 50 100 150 200
Effective consolidation stress, 'c (kPa)

Figure 4. Rigidity criterion

 1
9
3 6

21

8 11
1 2
8 17
0.5 1
10
2 4
6 16
12 4 14 20
13 18 19
3 5 15
7
5

0 CIU
3 2 CKoIU
CKoU
1 EKoIU
4 EKoU
CAP

-0.5
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
( '1+ '3)/2 'p

Figure 5. Normalized yield envelope for Guiche soft clay (Adour valley, France)

Summary and conclusions

Oedometric and triaxial test results obtained on Guiche soft clay (Adour valley, France) made it possible to
analyze the effects of disturbance of specimens on limit state behavior of this natural clay. These results show that the
mechanical parameters values can well be influenced by quality of specimens:
for oedometric tests, it seems that the disturbance of specimens can seriously affect the compressibility and
consolidation parameters of clay. It causes to decrease the compressibility of clay in overconsolidated state (thus to
decrease its swelling index) and in normally consolidated state (thus to decrease its compression index). It returns
thus difficult the definition of point of compressibility curve corresponding to preconsolidation pressure, because
this curve is flattened according to the degree of disturbance of specimens;
for triaxial tests, the behavior of clay is mainly controlled by its limit and critical states. The undrained shear
strength and undrained shear modulus vary with effective consolidation stress, which conditions the position and
shape of limit state curve of clay. The disturbance of specimens can affect these parameters and influence the
corresponding limit and critical states.
The validity criteria of oedometric and triaxial test results proposed in this paper are complementary. They can be
employed to analyze the resistance and deformability properties of natural soft clays in order to distinguish the
disturbed from undisturbed specimens and, consequently, to reject those presenting an excessive disturbance.

References
Ducasse, P., Mieussens, C., Moreau, M., Soyez, B. (1986). Oedometric testing in the Laboratoires des Ponts et
Chaussées, France. Consolidation of soils testing and evaluation, ASTM STP 892, R.N. Yong and F.C. Townsend Eds.,
Philadelphia, pp 282-298.

Khemissa, M., Magnan, J.P. (2000). Variabilité des résultats d’essais oedométriques sur l’argile molle de Guiche.
Bulletin des Laboratoires des Ponts et Chaussées, France, n°227, pp.41-50.
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Khemissa, M., Magnan, J.P., Josseaume, H. (1997). Étude en laboratoire des propriétés mécaniques de l’argile molle de
Guiche (vallée de l’Adour, France). Revue Française de Géotechnique, n°81, pp.3-25.

Khemissa, M., Magnan, J.P., Josseaume, H. (1993). Étude des propriétés mécaniques de l'argile molle de Guiche (vallée
de l'Adour, France). Études et recherches des Laboratoires des Ponts et Chaussées, France, série Géotechnique,
GT153, 204p.

Khemissa, M. (1988). TRIDEP : programme de dépouillement des essais triaxiaux classiques et spéciaux. Laboratoire
Central des Ponts et Chaussées, France.

Magnan, J.P., Mieussens, C., Soyez, B., Vautrain, J. (1985). Essais oedométriques. Méthodes d’essai LPC, France, n°
13, 83 p.

Terzaghi, K., Peck, R.B., Mesri, G. (1996). Soil mechanics engineering practice. John Wiley and Sons, New York