It is important to understand the mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils, as they occur extensively in compacted fills and also in natural soils above the water table. Unsaturated soil has a negative pore water pressure. The ingress of water into an unsaturated soil will affect the pore water pressure and therefore soil suction. Changes in suction can result in collapses, landslides and also swelling. However, the measurement of volume change of unsaturated soil is not straightforward.
Vj Tech offers 2 systems for Unsaturated Triaxial testing (Bishop & Wesley type twin cell and double walled cell) and an unsaturated shearbox for Unsaturated Shear testing
Useful datasheets to download for further information;
Unsaturated Triaxial Testing
Select the category of Unsaturated Testing you are interested in to see available equipment options;