ABSTRACT
Testing soil samples in the laboratory plays an important role in soil mechanics research and civil engineering practice. Almost all we know about soil behaviour has been learned from laboratory tests. Tests may be carried out on small samples of soil to examine the characteristics of the soil or on models of soil structures to examine how slopes, walls and foundations deform and collapse. In this chapter we will consider tests on soil samples. Laboratory tests are carried out for a number of purposes, the most important being:
