ABSTRACT

Having in mind that laboratory and in situ tests imply strain rates in the soil, a viscous resistance are therefore always present in these tests and the strain rate associated to any particular test may have a significant influence on the result. In other words, if a test is carried out on two similar samples of the same soil using different strain rates, two different values of the concerned parameter will be obtained. Such apparent discrepancy results from the strain rate effect. A physical understanding and an adequate quantification of the viscous phenomenon allows a proper interpretation of test results, leading to basic parameters of behaviour, irrespective of the strain rate.