Behavior of collapsible loess saturated with NAPL in confined compresion tests

Abstract

Loess from the central area of Argentina are unstable soils with mechanical properties highly dependent on moisture content. These soils have a macro skeleton that collapses when either loads increase and/or water enter into the soil pores. This collapse mechanism affects deformation modulus and strainstress behavior of this soil. This research analyzes experimental results obtained in triple-oedometer tests performed in silty loess. Three identical samples of different silty loess families were tested in confined compression tests at natural moisture content, fully saturated with water and fully saturated with a Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (NAPL). The obtained results allow determining the relative importance of suction, salt dissolution, and particle-fluid interaction mechanisms on the mechanical behavior of the collapsible loessical silts from the center of Argentina.