Experimental Relationship Between Swell Pressure and Suction

Synopsis The Paper presents results of measurement of swell percentage and pressure under gradual and controlled moisture intake, using an osmotic system coupled with the conventional consolidometer set-up. The results are interpreted in terms of a suction decrease in the clay, thus adding to the limited data available on the relationship between swelling potential suction. It is shown that for a certain practical range of moistures (above optimum) the swell pressure is approximately equal to the difference between the suction of a freshly prepared sample under zero load and the final suction of a sample continuously wetted and not allowed to change its volume. On the other hand, when the clay is rather dry (at moistures less than optimum) the swell pressure found to be equal to a fraction of this suction difference. La Communication presente des resultats de mesures de pourcentage de gonflement et de pression de gonflement lors de l'absorption graduelle et controlee d'humidite, effectuees en utilisant un...