Effects of sampler design on tube sampling disturbance—numerical and analytical investigations

The detailed features of the design of a sampling tube, such as area ratio, inside clearance, cutting edge taper angle, etc., have an important influence on the disturbance caused when a tube sampler is pushed into cohesive soil. Currently, most tube sampler designs have evolved on the basis of empirical design rules, and local good practices, developed for particular soil conditions. The strain path method provides a basis upon which the influence and importance of different features of tube sampler design can be evaluated, and the design of future samplers optimized. This paper examines the use of Baligh's strain path method for the assessment of tube sampling disturbance, and implements the method via a finite-element approach to assess the influence of area ratio, cutting-edge angles and inside clearance, on sample disturbance evaluated on the basis of the strains imposed on the centre-line of a soil sample.The detailed features of the design of a sampling tube, such as area ratio, inside clearance, cutting edge taper angle, etc., have an important influence on the disturbance caused when a tube sampler is pushed into cohesive soil. Currently, most tube sampler designs have evolved on the basis of empirical design rules, and local good practices, developed for particular soil conditions. The strain path method provides a basis upon which the influence and importance of different features of tube sampler design can be evaluated, and the design of future samplers optimized. This paper examines the use of Baligh's strain path method for the assessment of tube sampling disturbance, and implements the method via a finite-element approach to assess the influence of area ratio, cutting-edge angles and inside clearance, on sample disturbance evaluated on the basis of the strains imposed on the centre-line of a soil sample.