Triaxial Tests On Weak Cohesive Soils – Some Practical Remarks (Part 2)

This paper is a continuation of the paper “Triaxial tests on weak cohesive soils – some practical remarks (part 1)” and concerns the problems related to the preparation of weak cohesive soils for triaxial testing. This part (2/2) presents detailed description and discussion of the issues related to installation of specimen in the apparatus and assembling various accessories before the main test. It is based on the Authors’ own experience and literature review. Some solutions, which make the work with weak soils easier and, at the same time, increase the reliability of the results, are suggested e.g.: the paraffin method or the use of a special frame enabling repositioning of local microdisplacement sensors during the triaxial test. The issues connected with soil sampling and forming of triaxial specimens have been included in part 1/2 of this article. In the Authors opinion, the text (parts 1 and 2) may constitute an important hint for researchers completing a triaxial testing station intended for testing weak cohesive soils.