Experimental investigation of the behaviour of partly saturated soils is a key component in the analysis and design of a wide range of geoenvironmental problems. Furthermore, in some circumstances the influence of temperature variation needs to be considered in addition to hydraulic and mechanical behaviour. To this end, temperature and suction controlled oedometers have recently been developed at Cardiff University. Two one-dimensional cells have been built that permit parallel testing of partly saturated soils over a temperature range of room temperature to 90°C. Suction control is achieved using the axis translation technique and is currently limited to a maximum of 1.5 MPa. Vertical stress is applied via an air pressure controlled loading ram, operating up to maximum stress of 2.5 MPa. This paper briefly describes the design and development of the equipment and presents some preliminary experimental results.

  • INTRODUCTION

  • EQUIPMENT DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

  • PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

  • CONCLUSIONS

  • ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  • REFERENCES

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