Analysis of volume change and collapsibility of an unsaturated soil profile

• Grant number: 15/18960-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2015
• End date: November 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Geotechnical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Roger Augusto Rodrigues
• Grantee: Gustavo Tavernaro Tambelli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to study the volume change and the collapsibility of a unsaturated sandy soil profile by conventional oedometer tests and suction controlled oedometer tests. In the studied region, thick layers of collapsible soil are found and many problems related to foundation settlements are very common. In this research oedometer tests with undisturbed samples taken from different depths along a profile will be performed with the purpose to investigate the deformability due to variation of soil suction. The tests will be performed in conventional oedometer chambers and in especially developed chambers for suction imposition and control by axis translation technique. The results will enable the layer thickness delimitation of collapsible soil in the local, enabling future possible appropriate forecasts and analyses of real situations of engineering.