BEHAVIOUR OF UNSATURATED AGGREGATED SOIL IN OEDOMETRIC CONDITION

Natural and agricultural soils usually possess an aggregated structure; in the sense that they are composed of aggregates and large inter-aggregate pores. Under the natural condition, these soils are usually unsaturated and the large pores are easily drained. The present paper looks at the combined effects of soil structure and partial saturation on the mechanical behaviour of aggregated soils. Conventional and suction-controlled oedometer testing are used to evaluate the soil response at different combinations of saturation and the initial soil structure. The soil structure effects are assessed by comparing the behaviour of aggregated to that of the corresponding reconstituted soil. The effects of suction in reconstituted and aggregated soils are evaluated by testing at different levels of suction.