366 ADVANCED TRIAXIAL TESTING OF SOIL AND ROCK

The area in the state of Kuwait is covered by various types of sedimentary deposits ranging
in age from Eocene to Recent [ 11 ). The surficial deposit consists of wind-blown sand and
sediments comprising silicious sands and gravels with varying content of silt and clay, and
gypsum band, wherein the original sand belongs to Dibbibba formation. The climate of
Kuwait is characterized by an extreme hot and dry summer lasting several months. Evap-
oration is high throughout the year with very linle runoff into the sea. The evaporation in
excess of tht rainfall leads to a general upward movement of groundwater with increased
concentration of soluble salts at or near surface, enriching the top layers with gypsum and
carbonates, and ultimately leading to cementation. Such soils are locally known as "Gatch"
[/2) .
The study areas were two relatively recent developed urban zones, namely, Kuwait City
and its suburbs, and Jahra. The city of Kuwait. at 29 25' N-latitude and 48" E longitude.
is located on Kuwait Bay whereas Jahra is an oasis on the main road to Basra City in Iraq
about 40 km southwest of Kuwait City.
Sampling and Testing J>rocram
Soils used for this investigation were collected at depths of 1.5 to 8.0 m from a total of
twelve boreholes. Seven of these boreholes were located in Kuwait City and its suburbs.
and the remainder were located in the Jahra area (Fig. 1). All boreholes, 100 mm in nominal
diameter, were advanced by rotary wash technique using bentonite slurry except above
water table where casing was used to protect side walls. The samples were extracted using
73-mm inside diameter (ID) and 900-mm length pitcher samplers.
The testing program included first determining the physical and index properties of all
samples. To obtain parameters that could be used in comparing the multistage with the
conventional triaxial test, four series of tests were performed under drained and undrained
conditions. A total of twelve sets, each comprising three conventional tests and one mul-
tistage test were conducted using both undisturbed and remolded specimens. The remolded
specimens were prepared to. have the same moisture content and density as the natural soil.
The testing program, detailed in Table 1, was implemented using a cell and machine
manufactured by Wykeham Farrance. The soil samples exhibiting limited variation in prop-
erties and having ample recovery were used. The specimens, with nominal dimension of 73-
mm diameter (ID) and 150-mm length, were tested employing a back pressure o.345 kPa.
The sequences of isotropically applied consolidation pressures were 69, 207, 414 kPa and
207, 414, 621 kPa. To prepare a test specimen, the sample from the pitcher sampler was
pushed hydraulically to standard laboratory tubes of the same 10 and 150 mm in length.
This practice ensured obtaining good specimens with the least disturbance. (Earlier attempts
at taking specimens of smaller dimension ended in failure because of the type of soil, which
is characterized by its loose structure and bulky shaped grains.) The true dimension of each
individual specimen was recorded after its extraction from the standard tube. End and radial
drainage was allowed by using porous stones and filter strips, respectively. ln the beginning
of the first stage, the specimens were left for 24 h under full back pressure and slightly
elevated cell pressure to ensure saturation, followed by application of the consolidation
pressure. Each specimen was checked for a degree of saturation ranging from 90 to 100%.
After allowing for full consolidation, the specimens were sheared at a constant rate of strain
of 0.5 and 1% per hour in drained and undrained tests, respectively. During the shearing
stage, a continuous record of load and volume change for drained/pore water pressure for
undrained tests were taken at a deformation interval of 0.1 mm.
J. AISulaimi, M. I. El-Sayed, Y. Youasb, M. Mani, A. Akber, et al., "Study of the Gatch Deposits
in Kuwait City and Suburbs," Research Report 1399, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. Kuw3it
(Unpublished), 1984.
m "'""
SAEEOY AND MOLL.AH ON MULTISTAGE TRIAXIAL TEST OF KUWAITI SOILS 367
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TABLE 2- PhyJical and inda propntin of tm sampla.
Naturul Bulk Passing Average
Test Sample Moisture Oc:nshy, U.S. No. 200 Gtain Size Liquid Plastic Sltrlokage
Set Identification Conlellt, % kglm' Sieve,% D,., mm Limit, % Limit, % Umit, %
I 01 9.0 1935 21.4 0.30 33.6 24.8 21.9
2 02 14.8 2060 17.4 0.25 NP' NP NA<
3 0 3 16.8
1fJT7 12.7 0.55 NP NP NA
4 04 16.2 1991 20.2 0.27 NP NP NN
5 05 16.8 2014 25.9 0.30 25.4 21.2 14.8
6 06 16.6 2074 18.7 0.23 NP NP NA'
7 07 13.2 2063 19.2 0.42 NP NP NN
8 U1 12.4 2040 20.4 0.24 23.4 18.4 16.0
9 U2 12.7 206S 28.1 0.20 28.2 17.2 14.4
10 U3 13.3 2117 40.4 0.15 27.5 16.3 14.1
11 U4 12.8 2015 24.6 0.60 NP NP NA
12 us 9.5 2010 11.6 0.42 NP NP NA'
SM = silty sand, and SC ~ elayey sand.
NP a nonplastic.
NA a not applicable.
NO ~ DOt determined.
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Specific
Gravity Degree or
orSon Saturation,
Solids %
2.69 47.0
2.68 80.3
2.6S 90.9
2.68 71.0
NO" 81.3
2.66 89.2
2.67 75.8
2.67 70.3
2.71 71.9
2.71 80.1
2.67 15.8
2.69 55.0
Unified Soil
Classification"
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370 ADVANCED TRIAXIAL TESTING OF SOIL AND ROCK
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FIG. 2-Partic/e sizt di.!tribUJion band for tesU!d soil samples.
Re$11115 and Discussion
Two series of drained tests were performed on seven sets of samples taken from different
sites. Of these samples, four sets were disturbed and the remainder were undisturbed sam-
ples. The disturbed specimens were remolded to the in situ density at the natural moisture
content of the sample. The remolded specimens served two purposes, namely, compensation
of the lack of undisturbed specimens and comparison of results with those of und.isturbed
samples.
A typical set of stress-deformation relationships, obtained from both multistage and
conventional triaxial tests, is given in Fig. 3. The data were obtained from drained compres-
sion tests performed using the confining pressure sequence of 207, 414, 621 kPa. The data
presented in Fig. 3 show that the stiffness and peak strength of all specimens increase with
confining pressures. Volume changes during shear were measured, and the observations
were also plotted in Fig. 3. The vo.lume changes well as failure strains were generally
small. All samples, irrespective of the type of testing, were noticed to fail by slight bulging
with the development of failure planes indicating transitional response, a behavior usually
displayed by brittle-to-ductile material. The reason for the transition from brittle-to-ductile
failure modes appears to be related to the relative contributions to the soil strength response
by the cementation and frictional components of the defonnation resistance mechanism.
Similar observations were noted in the undrained test series performed on five sets of
undisturbed samples taken from different sites in which the sequence of lateral pressures
were varied from 69, 207, 414 kPa to 207, 414, 621 kPa and records of load, deformation,
and changes of pore water pressure during shear were recorded (Fig. 4).
Stress-deformation relationships for multistage versus conventional triaxial test can be
compared in Figs. 3 and 4. From these figures, it is clear that during the first stage shearing,
the stress-strain curve in the multistage test fairly matc.hes tbe conventional test. But de
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374 ADVANCED TRIAXIAL TESTING OF SOIL AND ROCK
TABLE of strtngth parameters a1 failurt condilion.
Strength Paramctcn;
Coht$ion, kPa
Angle of
Friction, deg
Tut Test Sample Conventional Multistage Conventional Multistage
Set Series Identification Test Test Test Test
1 01 69 59 30.8 31.2
2
ClO-l'
02 12 0 31.6 32.2
3 03 0 12 33.7 33.4
4 04 35 23 30.6 30.0
5 05 13 13 36.9 36.0
6 CID-11 D6 69 58 30.0 30.0
7 07 36 47 32.7 32.2
8 UJ 23 35 31.5 31.2
9 CIUl' U2 0 13 33.7 34.0
10 U3 34 57 28.6 28.3
II cru-u U4 24 24 33.0 33.0
12 us 24 24 32.9 32.9
CID = isotropicaUy consolidated drained.
CIU i:sotropically consolidated undrained.
Acknowledgments
The testing program was carried out at the soil laboratory of Government Laboratories
and Testing Station, Ministry of Public Works, Kuwait. Tbe authors express their deep
gratitude to Dr. Abdulmajid Jeragb of the Ministry of Public Works and Ms. Sarah AI
Omar of the Ministry of Electricity and Water.

[I) Saeedy, H. S., Azzouz, A., and Mollah, M.A., "Sub-sutfaee Water Rise in Kuwait and Suburbs,"
Vol. 4-Final Report, Kuwait. Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait_, 1986.
[2) Saeedy. H. S. and Mollah, M.A., "Geotechnical Study of North and Northwest Coast of the
Arabian Gulf," Paper submitted for publication to Southeast Alian Geotechnical Society, Geo-
technical Engineering Jouma/, 1986.
[Jl Terzaghi, K., Erdbaumechanik, Wien, Oeuticlce, 1925.
[4 Lambe, T. w. and Whitman, R. V., Soil Mechanics, Wiley Eastern Private Limited, New Delhi,
1973, p. 141.
[5] Lumb, P., "Multi-stage Triaxial Tests on Undisturbed Soils," Civil Engineering and Public Works
Review, Vol. 59, 1964, pp. 591-595. ,
. [6] Kenney, T. C. and Watson, G. H., "Multi-stage Triaxial Test rorOeterrniningc' and<!>' of Saturated
Soils," Proceedings of rhe Fifrh Jn:emariona/ Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation En
gineuing, Vol. 1, Paris, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering,
1961, pp. 191-195.
[7) Folque, J. and Pinto, F. J. C .. "lnOuence of Mean Stn:ss on the Strength Characteristics Evaluated
by One Specimen Tests," Procttdings of the Seventh International Conference on Soil Mechanics
and Foundation Engineering, Me.ico, Vol. I, 1969, pp. 127-130.
(8] Anderson, W. F., "The Use of MultiStase Triaxial Tests to Find the Undrained Strength Param-
eters of Stony Boulder Clay," Technical Note 'J1Il 89, Journal ofrhe Institution of CMI Enginetrs,
London. 1974, pp. 367-372.
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