Abstract
In this study, triaxial compression test under low confining pressure and undrained state were carried out for saturated and unsaturated kaoline specimens and undisturbed sample, to study the effect of suction reduction caused by wetting process, and effective stress path shear and strength characteristics were examined. From the test results, it was found that the intergranular adhesive force between soil particles affects on the peak strength, and that the residual strengths were arranged uniquely for the effective mean stress taking the suction stress as confining pressure. And we proposed one prediction method for the strength reduction caused by decrease of suction during wetting process.
