Modified Odometer for Arid, Saline Soils
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 120, Issue 10
Abstract
Recent work conducted on a salt‐encrusted, surficial soil, known as sabkha, indicated that the conventional oedometer apparatus was incapable of detecting the collapse potential. This study proposes a modification to the conventional oedometer to allow the water to percolate through the soil sample under a constant head. Two tests were conducted on undisturbed sabkha specimens to establish the reliability of the modified oedometer. Precolation of water has commenced at a pressure of 233 kPa and at the overburden pressure. Results of these tests indicate that sabkhas have a collapse potential that can be classified as trouble. This collapse is primarily ascribable to the dissolution of sodium chloride (), leaching of calcium and soil grain adjustment. The collapse of sabkha was physically manifested by a significant reduction in both void ratio and permeability. The compression and swelling indices were not affected by flooding and percolation of distilled water through the sabkha matrix.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 120 • Issue 10 • October 1994
Pages: 1892 - 1897
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 3, 1992
Published online: Oct 1, 1994
Published in print: Oct 1994
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