INDENTATION TEST FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF TENSILE STRENGTH OF COMPACTED SOIL

The author describes a method of measuring the tensile strength of compacted soil based on Berenbaum and Brodie's indentation test for coal. A square specimen is compressed between two symmetrically opposed flat ended indenters. The method is suitable for materials like soils where the shear strength is considerably greater than the tensile strength. The method unmistakably shows whether failure has occurred in tension or shear by observing the location at which the crack is initiated. The report gives the results of an experimental study of the test using a synthetic soil, with a liquid limit of 257 and a plastic limit of 61 per cent, made of bentonite and kaolinite. 1016cm cubes were compressed in 3 layers and indentation tests made parallel to the direction of compaction. Results are compared with the compressive strength of cylinders using Nagaraj's static compaction device. Tests were carried out on samples varying in dry density and degree of saturation. Only a few specimens were found to fail in shear (when cracks appeared initially at the edge of the specimen near the loading strips). Graphs are given showing the relation between tensile strength and dry density and degree of saturation and also compressive strength and these factors. A relationship is also given for the ratio of tensile to compressive strength and the degree of saturation. This shows that as the saturation increase the ratio also increases: the range obtained being from 0.07 to 0.19 and comparing with ranges of 0.08 to0.16 and 0.03 to 0.09 respectively obtained by other workers quoted. /TRRL/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1790571
• Corporate Authors:

  Indian Roads Congress

  Jamnagar House, Shahjahan Road
  New Delhi,   India  110 011
• Authors:
  • Zacharias, G
• Publication Date: 1976-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 11-15
• Serial:
  • Indian Highways
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Indian Roads Congress
  • ISSN: 0376-7256

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Compaction; Compression; Compressive strength; Cracking; Density; Dry density; Failure; Liquid limits; Measurement; Percent saturation; Plastic limit; Samples; Shear strength; Soil compaction; Soils; Strength of materials; Tensile strength; Tension; Tests
• Uncontrolled Terms: Depressions (Indentations); Position
• ITRD Terms: 3686: Compaction; 5532: Compression; 5211: Cracking; 5907: Degree of saturation (mater); 5908: Density; 5520: Failure; 5918: Liquid limit; 9061: Location; 6136: Measurement; 5923: Plastic limit; 6251: Sample (mater); 5531: Shear; 4156: Soil; 5544: Strength (mater); 5502: Tension; 6255: Test
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149019
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Analytic
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 17 1977 12:00AM