Effect of Water Content on Unconfined Compressive Strength of Compacted Loess under Unsaturated Conditions

Abstract

This research is aimed at studying the engineering behavior of loess in Northeastern region of Thailand,particularly on the effect of water content and wetting-drying process on the strength of this soil. Theconcern for this soil is that the bond between the soil particles is relatively strong under unsaturated statebut becomes very weak under saturated state. This research was studied by conducting a series of unconfinedcompression tests on the compacted Khon Kaen loess with different water contents within the samplesand different wetting-drying paths. The results from the experiments showed the strength of loess decreasedwith increasing water content. This effect is very significant at water content below 5 %. Theresults also showed that there is no effect of wetting-drying paths on the change in unconfined compressivestrength with water content.Abstract1 Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering.E-mail: anuchit_u@hotmail.comAnuchit Uchaipichat 1Vongchavalitkul University, Muang, Nakhonratchasima 30000