Model for Prediction of Shear Strength with Respect to Degree of Saturation

A new prediction model for unsaturated soil shear strength parameters with respect to degree of saturation is presented in this paper. Details of the model formulation and the determination of model parameters are described and reported. Introducing shear strength parameters of saturated soil, the model can be used in practice engineering involving both unsaturated soils and saturated soils. Moreover, more soil engineering characteristics can be captured in the new model compared with previous analogous models. The validity of this model is verified through a number of shear strength data available in the published literature. To verify the model against Yunnan red clay from China, a series of constant-water content triaxial tests have been carried out on both saturated and unsaturated specimens. Details of the experimental program and results are presented in this paper.