TP – 1106 An Introduction to Triaxial Compression Soil Tests for Professional Engineers

Description

The triaxial compression test is used to measure the shear strength of a soil under controlled drainage conditions. In the basic triaxial test, a cylindrical specimen of soil encased in a rubber membrane is placed in a triaxial compression chamber, subjected to a confining fluid pressure, and then loaded axially to failure. Connections at the ends of the specimen permit controlled drainage of pore water from presented herein apply only to the basic test conducted with limited drainage conditions, and do not include special types or variants of this test. In general, a minimum of three specimens, each under a different confining pressure, are tested to establish the relation between shear strength and normal stress. The test is called “triaxial” because the three principal stresses are known and controlled