Triaxial apparatus equipped with elastic waves and matric suction measurement techniques

Abstract A recently developed technique for elastic wave measurement, a disk transducer method, and a pressure membrane technique for suction measurement were merged into a modified triaxial testing apparatus enabling the procurement of both the elastic waves and the matric suction of a cylindrical specimen. The apparatus was employed to evaluate the variation in suction in sandy soil possessing a low range of suction (less than 100 kPa). Fine sand with two types of fines, namely, non-plastic silt and kaolin clay, was mixed with Toyoura sand in order to prepare sandy soil specimens. Both compressional and shear wave velocities were evaluated in conjunction with the associated matric suction. The matric suction was varied by injecting water into the specimens, and the relevant elastic wave velocities were obtained by a disk transducer. This research has corroborated the applicability of the disk transducer method to unsaturated soil specimens as well as the effects of matric suction on the mechanical behaviour of sandy soils possessing a low range of suction.