Determination of Elastic Parameters in the Lateral Stress Oedometer

Measurement of elastic parameters is a fundamental problem in soil mechanics. In cross-anisotropic soils, five independent elastic parameters are required to fully describe soil behaviour. It is possible to determine all of these parameters in oedometric testing conditions if lateral stresses are measured during vertical loading. The calculation requires that three tests be conducted on samples trimmed at different orientations. This article examines a new lateral stress oedometer and its practical application for the measurement of cross-anisotropic elasticity parameters for a laboratory prepared kaolinite. Results of a series of tests on one-dimensionally consolidated kaolin yielded values of modulus and Poisson's ratio that are consistent with published literature. The lateral stress oedometer is a robust and relatively inexpensive test for determination of elastic parameters over a wide range of loading conditions.