THE APPLICABILITY OF A SMALL DIAMETER SAMPLER WITH A TWO-CHAMBERED HYDRAULIC PISTON FOR JAPANESE CLAY DEPOSITS

摘要

A new small diameter sampler with a two-chambered hydraulic piston (45-mm sampler) has been developed and its applicability is examined though Unconfined Compression Tests (UCT) and Step Loading Oedometer Tests (SLOT). The quality of samples obtained from the 45-mm sampler is higher than those of the sampler normally employed in Japan for both Holocene and Pleistocene clay deposits. The 45-mm sampler is more efficient overall than the other Japanese or foreign samplers because of its lighter weight, smaller size and the fact that use is not affected by the technical level of its operators. The UCT, direct shear test, K_0-consolidated undrained compression (CK_0UC), extension (CK_0UE) and SLOT can be performed on the samples obtained from the 45-mm sampler. Therefore, the 45-mm sampler can contribute to geotechnical investigation accuracy and design reliability.