New thermal triaxial apparatus for unsaturated soils using the osmotic method

International audienceThe study of the temperature effects on the behaviour of saturated and unsaturated soils on triaxial paths requires the development of a new triaxial experimental device of 3.5 MPa of confining pressure and equipped with a heating collar-controlled temperature. In addition to this case of the unsaturated soils, a special pedestal is developed, so as to impose suctions up to 9 MPa using an osmotic solution of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 through a permeable semi-membrane. Measurements of the degree of saturation and the variation of volume during tests induce various problems, primarily related to the thermal dilation of the osmotic solution and the cell-water system. These problems have been solved by carrying out a preliminary calibration. The applicability of this new apparatus concerns environmental geotechnics and geological engineering such as the design and behaviour of engineered barriers as well as the behaviour of the receiving layers of storage sites like radioactive waste