Suction Stress Characteristic Curve of Unsaturated Compacted Sand

1 Fac. of Eng., Aswan, South Valley Univ.

2 Fac. of Science, Aswan, South Valley Univ.

Suction stress characteristic curve (SSCC) is a relation between shear strength of soil and its

matric suction. It provides a potentially simple and practical way to describe the state of stress in

unsaturated soil. This relation is highly affected by the degree of saturation and texture of soil.

Mohr-Coulomb failure and critical state failure can be well represented by the SSCC concept.

For unsaturated soil, the shear strength theory proposed by Fredlund et al, 1978 can be used to

interpret the meaning of undrained shear strength in terms of two stress state variables, net

envelopes with respect to matric suction. However, it is the matric suction which holds the soil

specimen together during an unconfined compression test. The nonlinear variation of shear

tested compacted sand. The shear strength behavior of compacted sandy soil in unsaturated

condition is significantly influenced by physical and mechanical properties such as the initial

moulding water content, stress state and soil structure.