Inherent anisotropy of an undisturbed and compacted loess soil
Abstract
This work discusses the result of an experimental study on inherent
anisotropy of the loess soil found at Córdoba, Argentina. A cubical true triaxial
device provided with flexible boundaries was used and the samples were subjected
to an isotropic compression stress path. A brief description of the true triaxial
device as well as the procedure for its assemblage and testing procedure is
presented. Tests were performed on undisturbed and compacted samples.
Undisturbed block type samples were recovered from open trenches. Compacted
samples were made either by tamping or static compaction. The effect of
compaction method on structural anisotropy was evaluated. Samples were
prepared at dry of optimum, optimum and wet of optimum. Isotropic compression
tests show that inherent structural anisotropy is found in both undisturbed and
compacted specimens. Undisturbed samples are less compressible and develop
higher degree of strain anisotropy respect the compacted samples at the same dry
unit weight.