Determination of Shear Strength Parameters of Unsaturated Silts and Sands Based on the Water Retention Curve
Öberg A-L, Sällfors G
(Received 19 November 1995; accepted 17 April 1996)

Abstract
Great efforts have been made to understand and determine the stress parameters of unsaturated soils. However, this requires elaborate laboratory tests, which are both difficult and time consuming to perform. A hypothesis for determination of the shear strength of unsaturated soils is suggested. The hypothesis suggests a simple way of determining the shear strength based on the water retention curve and the angle of internal friction. Values of shear strengths have been taken from the literature and compared with shear strengths calculated according to this hypothesis. The shear strengths obtained from the hypothesis are in surprisingly good agreement with those found in the literature. The suggested hypothesis is critically examined and its limitations discussed. Finally, a reasonable way of applying the hypothesis in engineering practice is proposed.

Keywords:
degree of saturation, matric suction, shear strength, unsaturated soils, water retention curve

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Author Öberg A-L, Sällfors G Title Determination of Shear Strength Parameters of Unsaturated Silts and Sands Based on the Water Retention Curve Symposium , Committee on