EVALUATION OF UNDRAINED STRENGTH OF UNSATURATED SOILS BY PLATE UPLIFT TEST

抄録

A new testing method for estimating the strength parameters c and φ of unsaturated soil is proposed. In this method, the undrained strength is evaluated using the ultimate uplift resistance force of a small buried plate. This testing method is called the plate uplift test. To investigate the applicability of the plate uplift test as a testing method, the results for both undisturbed natural ground and compacted artificial ground using remolded soil are compared with those measured by laboratory shear tests. For artificial ground, the range of cohesion by the plate uplift test was 20∼30% of cohesion measured by the direct shear test. The plate uplift test can also estimate the cohesion of undisturbed natural ground. The plate uplift test is an effective field testing method because the variation in measured cohesion is small and the testing equipment is portable and can be operated easily. As a case study, the plate uplift test was applied as the execution management test in an embankment with a height of 28 meters.