Characterization of Shear Strength and Interface Friction of Organic Soil

This study was undertaken to investigate some specific problems that limit a safe design and construction of structures on problematic soils. An experimental study was carried out to examine the influence of loading rate and moisture content on shear strength of organic soil. Influece of moisture content on interface friction between organic soil and structural materials was also attempted. A commonly used soil in Iraq was prepared at varying moisture contents of 39%, 57% and 75%. The experimental results showed that the increase in water content will decrease the shear stress and the internal friction angle. An increase of the shearing rate was found to decrease the shear stress and internal friction angle for all percetanges of water contents. Further, direct shear tests were carried out to detect the interface shear stress behavior between organic soil and structural materials. The results revealed that the increase in water content was shown to have significant negetavie effects on the interface internal friction and angle shear strength.