Abstract
The sample quality suction probe is an economical, robust, and portable probe capable of obtaining rapid and reliable, direct, non-destructive measurements of soil suction in the field or laboratory. Based on the designs of Ridley and Burland in 1993 and Toker et al. in 2004 for unsaturated soils, this probe is constructed mainly from commercially available components and the saturation and measurement procedures are easy to perform. The probe is able to obtain repeatable measurements from saturated soil samples in the field immediately after sampling and also in the laboratory prior to specimen preparation for consolidation or strength testing. These suction measurements may be used to evaluate sample quality in the field or in the laboratory prior to specimen testing.
Issue Section:
Research Papers
References
1.
ASTM D5298,
1997
, “Standard Test Method for Measuremnt of Soil Potential (Suction) Using Filter Paper
,”Annual Book of Standards, Vol. 4.08
, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, pp. 157
–162
.2.
Guan
, Y.
and Fredlund
, D. G.
, “Use of the Tensile Strength of Water for the Direct Measurement of High Soil Suction
,” Can. Geotech. J.
0008-3674, Vol. 34
, 1997
, pp. 604
–614
. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-34-4-6043.
Henderson
, E.
, 1994
, “Evaluation of the Time Response of Pore Pressure Measurements
,” M.S. thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, Cambridge, MA.4.
Heymann
, G.
and Clayton
, C. R. I.
, Geotechnics for Developing Africa
, Wardle
G. R.
, Blight
G. E.
, and Fourle
A. B.
, Eds., Balkema
, Rotterdam
, 1999
, pp. 331
–339
.5.
Hight
, D. W.
, “Soil Characterisation: The Importance of Structure and Anisotropy
,” 38th Rankine Lecture
, British Geotechnical Society
, London
, 1998
.6.
Hight
, D. W.
, McMillan
, F.
, Powell
, J. J. M.
, Jardine
, R. J.
, and Allenou
, C. P.
, “Some Characteristics of London Clay
,” Characterisation and Engineering Properties of Natural Soils
, Vol. 2
, Tan
T. S.
, Phoon
K. K.
, Hight
D. W.
, and Leroveil
S.
, Eds., Balkema Publishers
, Lisse, Netherlands
, 2003
, pp. 851
–907
.7.
Hilf
, J. W.
, An Investigation of Pore-Water Pressure in Compacted Cohesive Soils
, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Design and Construction, Div.
, Denver, CO
, 1956
.8.
Ladd
, C. C.
and Lambe
, T. W.
, “The Strength of “Undisturbed” Clay Determined from Undrained Tests
,” Symposium on Laboratory Shear Testing of Soils, ASTM STP 361
, Ottawa, Ontario, ASTM
, Philadelphia, PA
, 1963
, pp. 342
–371
.9.
Low
, H. E.
, Landon
, M. M.
, Randolph
, M. F.
, and DeGroot
, D. J.
, “Geotechnical Characterisation and Engineering Properties of Burswood Clay
,” Géotechnique
, 2010
(accepted).10.
Lunne
, T.
, Long
, M.
, and Forsber
, C. F.
, “Characterization and Engineering Properties of Onsøy Clay
,” Characterization and Engineering Properties of Natural Soils
, Vol. 1
, Tan
T. S.
, Phoon
K. K.
, Hight
D. W.
, and Leroveil
S.
, Eds., Balkema
, Lisse, Netherlands
, 2003
, pp. 395
–427
.11.
Muraleetharan
, K. K.
and Granger
, K. K.
, “The Use of Miniature Pore Pressure Transducers in Measuring Matric Suction in Unsaturated Soils
,” Geotech. Test. J.
0149-6115, Vol. 22
, 1999
, pp. 226
–234
. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ11113J12.
Poirier
, S. E.
, DeGroot
, D. J.
, and Sheahan
, T. C.
, “Measurement of Suction in a Marine Clay as an Indicator of Sample Disturbance
,” Proceedings, GeoFrontiers 2005 Congress, Site Characterization and Modeling
, Mayne
P. W.
, et al, Eds., ASCE Geo-Institute, Austin, TX, 2005
.13.
Ridley
, A. M.
and Burland
, J. B.
, “A New Instrument for the Measurement of Soil Suction
,” Geotechnique
0016-8505, Vol. 43
, 1993
, pp. 321
–324
. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1993.43.2.32114.
Ridley
, A. M.
and Burland
, J. B.
, “Use of the Tensile Strength of Water for Direct Measurement of High Soil Suction—Discussion
,” Can. Geotech. J.
0008-3674, Vol. 36
, 1999
, pp. 178
–180
. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-36-1-17815.
Sjoblom
, K.
, The Mechanisms Involved During the Desaturation Process of a Porous Matrix
, MSCE Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, Cambridge, MA
, 2000
.16.
Take
, W. A.
and Bolton
, M. D.
, “Tensiometer Saturation and the Reliable Measurement of Soil Suction
,” Geotechnique
0016-8505, Vol. 53
, 2003
, pp. 159
–172
.17.
Tarantino
, A.
and Mongiovi
, L.
, “Calibration of Tensiometer for Direct Measurement of Matric Suction
,” Geotechnique
0016-8505, Vol. 53
, 2003
, pp. 137
–141
.18.
Toker
, N. K.
, Germaine
, J. T.
, Sjoblom
, K. J.
, and Culligan
, P. J.
, “A New Technique for Rapid Measurement of Continuous Soil Moisture Characteristic Curves
,” Geotechnique
0016-8505, Vol. 54
, 2004
, pp. 179
–186
.
This content is only available via PDF.
All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or copied, in whole or in part, in any printed, mechanical, electronic, film, or other distribution and storage media, without the written consent of ASTM International.
You do not currently have access to this content.
