Determination of odometric elasticity model and the settlement behaviour for soft soils in saturated and unsaturated state

Abstract

Soft soils are considered difficult soils to study, especially in terms of the settlement concept and its stages. Study of settlement   requires a set of basic assumptions within the theory of elasticity according to the theory of Terzaki, who considered that the soil is linear elastic and has homogeneous properties and it is in a state of complete saturation.

However, in fact, soft soils are found under engineering buildings with natural moisture, that is in a state of partial saturation, which allows researchers to enter into a large scientific field to determine the behaviour of this condition and compare it with the results of Terzaki’s theory of the concept of settlement.

Aim of presented research was to study the behaviour of soft soils, in saturated and unsaturated states, using the experimental method, on 15 damaged samples of soft soils to study them in the state of full saturation, and 15 samples to study them in the state of partial saturation. The samples were formed using a regular proctor test according to ASTM requirements. Also, a compressibility experiment was chosen to determine the values of settlement and oedometric modulus of elasticity, E oed.