LABORATORY WORK IN SOIL MECHANICS. 2ND EDITION

The aim of the book is to present a concise, clear introduction to laboratory testing techniques, procedures and limitations. Each chapter outlines the appropriate soil mechanics theory and the practical purposes of the various types of test. The tests described are: soil classification tests (determination of liquid and plastic limits, of particle-size distribution of a soil, of the specific gravity of soil particles, and chemical tests); seepage and permeability tests (permeater tests, field pumping tests, and determination of the coefficient of permeability by means of the rowe consolidation cell); shear-strength tests (unconfined compression test, shear box test, vane test, triaxial test, including laboratory measurement of pore-water pressure, and determination of skempton's pore pressure coefficients); consolidation tests (casagrande oedometer test, rowe consolidation cell, and determination of the coefficient of consolidation by pore-water pressure dissipation tests); soil compaction tests (2.5 kg rammer method, 4.5 kg rammer method, and vibrating hammer method). Two appendices deal with: in-situ testing: the standard penetration test, and soil properties respectively. (TRRL)