This paper provides design details of a modified ring shear test apparatus that can be used for the determination of the shear strength of unsaturated soils. Shear strength of unsaturated soils can be determined using this apparatus under constant volume, consolidated drained tests or constant water content conditions over a suction range of 0 to 500 kPa. This apparatus also facilitates the simultaneous study of the soil-water characteristics during the shearing process taking into account of the stress history and shear deformations. In addition, the shear strength behavior of Barahona sand both under saturated and unsaturated conditions using the ring shear apparatus under constant volume (CV) conditions are also presented.
展开▼
