TENSILE STRENGTH OF COMPACTED SOILS

Abstract

The study deals with the application of Diametral Compression Test, popularly known as the Brazilian Test, to determine the tensile strength of compacted soils. The Brazilian Test provides a simple method of determining tensile strength of compacted soils with a high degree of reproducibility of results. the results of tests conducted on six soils of plasticity indices varying from 5 to 75 show that the tensile strength of compacted soils increases with increasing moulding water content upto a limit (below OMC) and then decreases. The ratio of unconfined compressive strength and tensile strength of compacted soils (at OMC) of low to medium plasticity decreases with increasing plasticity index. This ratio for all the soils tested varies from 6 to 12.