Evaluation of the degree of saturation using Skempton coefficient B

ABSTRACT

Skempton coefficient B is commonly used to evaluate the saturation of a sample before the shearing stage in a triaxial test. For unsaturated soils, measuring the degree of saturation Sr at the end of the consolidation stage is very difficult whereas measuring Skempton coefficient B is very simple. Using this coefficient to obtain S_r of a sample in a triaxial apparatus without complex procedures might be an improvement, especially as regards testing procedures for unsaturated soils. Different authors have proposed a relationship between these two parameters based on the hypothesis that a variation of B coefficient with S_r is mostly due to the compressibility of air in the pores. However, the presence of air as a fluid phase gives rise to suction after the equilibrium is reached inside the sample leading to an increase in stiffness. Based on this observation, this article presents a new relationship that enables S_r to be evaluated with a given Skempton coefficient taking into account not only the initial void ratio and the isotropic elastic modulus but also the suction and the elastoplastic behaviour of the soil. The results of the proposed approach are then confronted with the original relationship and compared to experimental data.

KEYWORDS:

• Triaxial test
• saturation degree
• Skempton coefficient

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.