Studying Effect of Saturation Degree on the Bearing Capacity and Failure Mechanism of Sandy Soils

Abstract

In this research, an experimental method was employed on samples of sandy soils from the Tartous and Palmyra regions. The objective was to investigate the impact of saturation degree on the bearing capacity of partially saturated sandy soil and the associated failure mechanism. To achieve the aim of the research, a series of tests were conducted to determine the basic physical properties of the soils. Additionally, a series of laboratory loading tests were conducted for a footing model atop sandy soil under various saturation degrees. Matric suction was measured, and soil water characteristic curves were determined using the filter paper technique. The results were subjected to analysis and discussion, and the experimental work demonstrated that saturation degree had a clear effect on the bearing capacity. It was observed that the bearing capacity of partially saturated soil is higher than that of fully saturated soil. The values of the increase were found to range between 2.3 and 9.7 times the bearing capacity in the fully saturated state. An empirical relationship was proposed to simulate the bearing capacity of partially saturated sandy soil based on the experimental results. Furthermore, the results indicated that the saturation degree exerted a discernible influence on the failure mechanism. In particular, a failure mode associated with dense soils was discerned in medium-dense soils at specific degrees of saturation for the tested soils.