Simulation of the volumetric behaviour of unsaturated soils subjected static compaction

Abstract

    Matric suction has been used as one of the state variables for most the constitutive models of unsaturated soils in the literature. However, suction-controlled works are complex in practice since they generally require special test procedures, advanced equipment, and usually are very timeconsuming. Kodikara (2012) proposed the MPK framework to interpret the behaviour of compacted unsaturated soil in the void ratio (e) - net stress (p) - moisture ratio (ew) space. The distinct advantage of the model is that it is based on traditional constant moisture content compaction testing which is more common and simple than constant suction loading. This paper presents the development of Loading Wetting State Boundary Surface (LWSBS) in the MPK framework, and the results of the simulation of the volumetric behaviour of two types of soils under different state paths. The results show that the volumetric behavior of both soils under loading/wetting, or combination of loading/unloading/wetting/reloading state paths have well simulated within the framework.