Computer-controlled triaxial test apparatus for measuring swelling characteristics of reconstituted clay-bearing rock

Abstract

To avoid problems encountered during and after the construction of engineering projects built within swelling rocks and soils, real data related to swelling stress and strains should be used to model such phenomena. A computer-controlled triaxial swelling test apparatus was developed to determine the swelling potentials for rock and soil specimens. It allows one to measure three-dimensional swelling strains and stress in a cylindrical specimen under variable axial and confinement stress variables. Triaxial swell tests were performed using three different procedures: free swell, strain-controlled, and stress-controlled under different axial and confinement stress conditions. The results of several tests conducted on reconstituted clay-bearing rock samples were statistically analyzed and mathematical models were presented and evaluated.