Hygrothermal and Hydromechanical Behaviours of Unstabilized Compacted Earth

The hydromechanical behaviour of compacted earth samples was experimentally analysed with a triaxial apparatus at controlled hygrometry and temperature. The results show that the relative humidity at which the samples were stored have a strong impact on the mechanical characteristics of earthen material: both the maximum deviator stress and Young’s modulus decrease with the increase of relative humidity, meanwhile, more plastic characteristics are observed. Non-negligible swelling/shrinkage phenomena induced by variations of relative humidity are also observed. These results are eventually analysed in the light of a fully coupled hygrothermal–hydromechanical model.