Compression Tests on a Sandy Silt at Different Suction and Temperature Levels

This paper presents a unified thermo-mechanical experimental study on a remoulded unsaturated sandy silt and brings a contribution to the understanding of the fundamental mechanics of unsaturated soils in non- isothermal conditions. The experimental program was carried out at four temperatures and four suction levels using two thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) cells, one isotropic and the other oedometric. The effect of suction and temperature on the compressibility and on the apparent preconsolidation pressure of the soil is addressed. Finally, an analytical expression of the evolution of the apparent preconsolidation pressure with respect to temperature and suction is proposed.