TENSILE-STRENGTH OF 33 SATURATED REPACKED SOILS

Interaggregate strength in saturated soils is important in terms of erosion processes and surface sealing during rainstorms. The objective of this study was to ascertain the soil properties that influence interparticle binding of unconsolidated, saturated soil as measured by tensile failure of disturbed samples. Tensile strength of 33 soils was measured in the laboratory. The measurements were performed on 0- to 1-mm, 2- to 4-mm, and mixed aggregate size class materials. Factor analysis was used to understand the patterns of relationships and correlations among all the variates, and then to select appropriate variables (from among 39 measured soil properties) for use in regression relationships for tensile strength. Clay amount and surface properties were dominant in terms of explaining the variance of tensile strength. Other important factors included variables related to soil dispersion (Na and Na-adsorption ratio), silt, coarse sand, aggregation, and electrical conductivity. This study presents the use of a laboratory tensile test for loose, saturated soil as applied to a wide variety of soil types from across the USA.