Abstract
Earth structures such as an embankment made artificially by compaction are in partial saturation. The shear strength of the embankment which is constructed with a constant dry density is dependent mainly on the water content. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate by experiments the influence of void ratio and degree of saturation on the shear strength of compacted soils.Three series of triaxial compression tests were performed with different drainage conditions, and the pore pressure of partially saturated soils was measured by an earth pressure gauge designed by the authors. Samples used were two kinds of "Masa"-soil (decomposed granite, sandy loam). Specimens with various void ratios and degrees of saturation were made by compaction.Test results indicate that the shearing resistance decreases and pore pressure increases with increase in the degree of saturation and void ratio. Therefore, when an embankment is constructed with the sandy soils, protection of slope and sufficient compaction are necessary.
