The time required for saturation of the soil in direct shear tests

[ahmadhesari]

hi,

how much time is needed to ensure that the soil is saturated, at the direct shear test.

 

[GeoPaveTraffic]

Depends on the type of soil and how saturated it is when you place the sample in the machine.


Mike Lambert

 

[ahmadhesari]

True, but for example, how much time is needed for clay?
Or for fine sand?

 

[fattdad]

There's no guarantee that you'll ever reach full saturation just by submerging a sample in water.

f-d

¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

 

[morecoffeeplz]

Fine sands will saturate very quickly, I would guess one hour to be more than sufficient. Clays are more difficult to gage. Very dense over consolidated clays may never reach 100% saturation in the shear box. Monitor the vertical displacement loading/inundating and allow to swell until the specimen has appeared to come to equilibrium.