TRIAXIAL A-VALUE VERSUS SWELL OR COLLAPSE FOR COMPACTED SOIL

The purpose of this technical note is to compare the triaxial A-value with the percentage of swell or collapse measured in the oedometer app aratus for three different compacted soils. Those soils that collapsed in the oedometer apparatus had a high A-value from the triaxial test that is indicative of contractive behavior, and those soils that tende d to swell conversely had a low to negative A-value from the triaxial test indicative of dilative behavior. The relationship between triaxia l A-values and the swell or collapse from oedometer tests may be usefu l in identifying soil-behavior discrepancies and laboratory testing er rors. The soil behavior is independent of the dry density of the compa cted soil and the confining pressure.