Collapse phenomena during wetting in granular media

International audienceWe present an experimental study of identification and analysis of the collapsephenomenon in granular media, using a sample made of glass beads. The collapsepotential of a soil depends on several parameters such as liquid limit, matric suction,dry apparent density, initial water content and the amount of small particles. In thisstudy, we investigate the liquid effect during the wetting process, without externalmechanical stress. Experimental tests at different initial water contents were made fordifferent grain sizes. The equipment used is a triaxial device for unsaturated soils,instrumented with local axial and radial displacement sensors. The experimentalresults determined a critical water content of collapse, as well as the influence ofinitial water content, matric suction and grain size