ABSTRACT
Many geotechnical research studies are conducted in a progressive manner, with previous research aiding the present researcher and the present researcher guiding future research. No matter how much literature exists in a research area, there will still be challenges for new researchers to deal with. This is true in any field, but especially in the case of unsaturated soils research, which is intrinsically complex and it demands high levels of accuracy.
This paper presents challenges faced when developing a laboratory research programme into the behaviour of unsaturated compacted clays under K 0 conditions. The paper reports on the difficulties encountered in the research and how they were rectified or resolved. Specific attention is given to the fabrication of suction control mechanism using axis translation technique and the importance of basic material characterization of soil prior to any research.
