Este trabalho apresenta os resultados de provas de carga em placa com monitoramento da sucção e do teor de umidade, realizadas nas profundidades de 1,5, 4,0, 6,0 e 8,0 m no Campo Experimental de Fundações da Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, cujo perfil geotécnico é representativo da região centro-oeste do Estado de São Paulo. Para cada profundidade também se realizou ensaios com pré-inundação do terreno, representando a condição de sucção de matricial nula. Constatou-se que a profundidade e a sucção matricial média no solo sob a placa influem significativamente na capacidade de carga no sistema solo-placa. As curvas tensão x recalque obtidas não se caracterizam ruptura nítida nem indicam o modelo de ruptura física, exigindo assim, a adoção de critérios de ruptura convencional. Devido à semelhança dessas curvas com as curvas e x log\'sigma\' de ensaios de adensamento e, por isso, utilizou-se o método de PACHECO SILVA (1970) como um critério ruptura convencional, comparando-se com valores da tensão de pré-adensamento obtidos em laboratório. Também se utilizou o recalque de 25 mm para obter a correspondente ruptura convencional. / This work presents the results of plate load tests with measurements of soil matric suction and moisture content, carried out in the depths of 1,5 , 4,0 , 6,0 and 8,0 m at the Experimental Field of Foundations of School of Engineering of São Carlos, whose soil profile is representative of the middle-west region of the State of São Paulo. For each depth tests with previous flooding of the land, representing the condition of null matric suction. Were also carried out It was verified that the depth and the average matric suction in the soil under the plate influence significantly in the load capacity of the soil-plate system. The stress settlement curve obtained does not characterize clear rupture nor indicate the model of physical rupture, demanding the adoption of approaches of conventional rupture. Due to the similarity of those curves with the e x log\'sigma\' curves from consolidation tests and, to put that, PACHECO SILVA (1970) method was used as an approach to conventional rupture, being compared with values of the preconsolidation stress obtained in laboratory. It was also used settlement of 25 mm to obtain the corresponding conventional rupture.

Over the past 50 years, several advancements have been made in the research area of the mechanics of unsaturated soils. These advancements can be categorized into two groups; (i) development (or improvement) of testing techniques (or apparatus) to determine the mechanical properties of unsaturated soils and (ii) development of (numerical, empirical or semi-empirical) models to estimate the variation of mechanical properties of unsaturated soils with respect to suction based on the experimental results. Implementation of the mechanics of unsaturated soils in conventional geotechnical engineering practice, however, has been rather limited. The key reasons for the limited practical applications may be attributed to the lack of simple and reliable methods for (i) measuring soil suction in the field quickly and reliably and (ii) estimating the variation of mechanical properties of unsaturated soils with respect to suction. The main objective of this thesis research is to develop simple and reliable techniques, models or approaches that can be used in geotechnical engineering practice to estimate sol suction and the mechanical properties of unsaturated soils. This research can be categorized into three parts. In the First Part, simple techniques are proposed to estimate the suction values of as-compacted unsaturated fine-grained soils using a pocket penetrometer and a conventional tensiometer. The suction values less than 300 kPa can be estimated using a strong relationship between the compressive strength measured using a pocket penetrometer and matric suction value. The high suction values in the range of 1,200 kPa to 60,000 kPa can be estimated using the unique relationship between the initial tangent of conventional tensiometer response versus time behavior and suction value. In the Second Part, approaches or semi-empirical models are proposed to estimate the variation of mechanical properties of unsaturated soils with respect to suction, which include: - Bearing capacity of unsaturated fine-grained soils - Variation of bearing capacity of unsaturated fine-grained soils with respect to matric suction - Variation of initial tangent elastic modulus of unsaturated soils below shallow foundations with respect to matric suction - Variation of maximum shear modulus with respect to matric suction for unsaturated non-plastic sandy soils (i.e. plasticity index, Ip = 0 %) In the Third Part, approaches (or methodologies) are suggested to simulate the vertically applied stress versus surface settlement behavior of shallow foundations in unsaturated coarse-grained soils assuming elastic-perfectly plastic behavior. These methodologies are extended to simulate the stress versus settlement behavior of both model footings and in-situ plates in unsaturated coarse-grained soils. The results show that there is a reasonably good comparison between the measured values (i.e. soil suction, bearing capacity, elastic and shear modulus) and those estimated using the techniques or models proposed in this thesis research. The models (or methodologies) proposed in this thesis research are promising and encouraging for modeling studies and practicing engineers to estimate the variation of mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils with respect to matric suction.

Este trabalho apresenta resultados de provas de carga em placa com monitoramento do teor de umidade e da sucção matricial do solo, realizadas a 1,5 m de profundidade em um solo não saturado e colapsível, considerado representativo da região centro-oeste do estado de São Paulo. Foram executados ensaios com e sem inundação da cava, do tipo lento (SML), rápido (QML) e misto (lento até um determinado estágio, passando a rápido a partir de então). O acompanhamento do teor de umidade e da sucção durante os ensaios foi realizado através de pesagem de amostras, com a utilização da técnica de reflectometria no domínio do tempo (TDR) e com o auxílio de tensiômetros. A partir dos dados obtidos, procedeu-se a uma análise da influência da sucção na resposta do sistema solo-placa. Foi observado que o aumento da sucção provoca um crescimento substancial da capacidade de carga do solo. Comparando-se ensaios inundados com não inundados, observou-se que o colapso do solo mostra-se mais proeminente com o aumento da sucção. Com respeito à técnica de reflectometria no domínio do tempo, a mesma demonstrou um desempenho satisfatório para medidas de teor de umidade in situ. / This work presents results of plate load tests with measurements of soil moisture content and matric suction, carried out at a 1.5 m depth in an unsaturated collapsible soil, considered as representative of the middle-west region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The tests were performed with and without the wetting of the pit. Three test methods were used: slow maintained load (SML), quick maintained load (QML), and mixed tests (SML up to a certain stage, switched to QML from there on). Soil moisture content and suction were measured through gravimetric determination on samples, the time domain reflectometry technique (TDR), and tensiometers. The gathered data allowed an assessment of the influence of the soil suction over the soil-plate system response. It was observed that the increase in suction causes a substantial increase in soil bearing capacity. Comparisons between wet and non-wet tests showed that soil collapse is higher when suction rises. The time domain reflectometry technique showed a promising performance with respect to in situ water content measurements.

Apresenta-se um método para a previsão da curva tensão-recalque a ser obtida em provas de carga em placa circular, instalada a diferentes profundidades e com vários diâmetros, para diversos níveis de sucção em solo não saturado. Também é proposto um procedimento para correção dos recalques medidos em ensaio com carregamento do tipo rápido, para a obtenção dos correspondentes recalques estabilizados de um ensaio lento. A previsão realizada apresenta resultados bastante próximos dos obtidos em provas de carga, verificando-se assim a aplicabilidade do método proposto para reproduzir o comportamento do sistema solo-placa neste tipo de solo. Além disso, este trabalho apresenta um estudo do módulo de deformabilidade a partir de ensaios de campo e de laboratório, para o solo do campo experimental de fundações da EESC/USP, aplicando conceitos da mecânica dos solos não saturados. Em campo, o módulo de deformabilidade foi obtido por meio de provas de carga em placa circular com e sem inundação prévia do solo. Em laboratório, o módulo foi obtido a partir de ensaios de compressão confinada e triaxiais, ambos com sucção controlada. Observou-se que a sucção matricial tem grande influência no módulo de deformabilidade do solo. / This thesis presents a method for prediction the stress-settlement curve to be obtained in circular plate load tests, at different depths and with several diameters, to differents suction levels on unsaturated soil. A procedure is also proposed for correction the settlement measured with a quick maintained load (QML) tests to obtain the stabilized settlement in a slow maintained load (SML) tests. This prediction presents quite results of the real measured stress-settlement curve through load tests, thus verifying the applicability of the proposed method to reproduce the behavior the soil-plate system in this soil. Besides, this work presents a study of the deformation modulus using field and laboratory tests, to the soil of the foundations experimental field of EESC/USP, applying concepts of the unsaturated soil mechanics. In field, the deformation modulus was obtained by means of circular plate load tests with and without previous soaking of the soil. In laboratory, the modulus was obtained using confined compression and triaxial tests, both with controlled suction. It was observed that the matric suction has great influence in the soil deformation modulus.

Over the past 50 years, several advancements have been made in the research area of the mechanics of unsaturated soils. These advancements can be categorized into two groups; (i) development (or improvement) of testing techniques (or apparatus) to determine the mechanical properties of unsaturated soils and (ii) development of (numerical, empirical or semi-empirical) models to estimate the variation of mechanical properties of unsaturated soils with respect to suction based on the experimental results. Implementation of the mechanics of unsaturated soils in conventional geotechnical engineering practice, however, has been rather limited. The key reasons for the limited practical applications may be attributed to the lack of simple and reliable methods for (i) measuring soil suction in the field quickly and reliably and (ii) estimating the variation of mechanical properties of unsaturated soils with respect to suction. The main objective of this thesis research is to develop simple and reliable techniques, models or approaches that can be used in geotechnical engineering practice to estimate sol suction and the mechanical properties of unsaturated soils. This research can be categorized into three parts. In the First Part, simple techniques are proposed to estimate the suction values of as-compacted unsaturated fine-grained soils using a pocket penetrometer and a conventional tensiometer. The suction values less than 300 kPa can be estimated using a strong relationship between the compressive strength measured using a pocket penetrometer and matric suction value. The high suction values in the range of 1,200 kPa to 60,000 kPa can be estimated using the unique relationship between the initial tangent of conventional tensiometer response versus time behavior and suction value. In the Second Part, approaches or semi-empirical models are proposed to estimate the variation of mechanical properties of unsaturated soils with respect to suction, which include: - Bearing capacity of unsaturated fine-grained soils - Variation of bearing capacity of unsaturated fine-grained soils with respect to matric suction - Variation of initial tangent elastic modulus of unsaturated soils below shallow foundations with respect to matric suction - Variation of maximum shear modulus with respect to matric suction for unsaturated non-plastic sandy soils (i.e. plasticity index, Ip = 0 %) In the Third Part, approaches (or methodologies) are suggested to simulate the vertically applied stress versus surface settlement behavior of shallow foundations in unsaturated coarse-grained soils assuming elastic-perfectly plastic behavior. These methodologies are extended to simulate the stress versus settlement behavior of both model footings and in-situ plates in unsaturated coarse-grained soils. The results show that there is a reasonably good comparison between the measured values (i.e. soil suction, bearing capacity, elastic and shear modulus) and those estimated using the techniques or models proposed in this thesis research. The models (or methodologies) proposed in this thesis research are promising and encouraging for modeling studies and practicing engineers to estimate the variation of mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils with respect to matric suction.

Este trabalho parte de um acervo pré-existente de provas de carga em placa (segundo os procedimentos ABNT-NBR-6489 e ASTM-D-1196) em solos da Formação Guabirotuba, importante unidade geológica da região metropolitana de Curitiba. O objetivo do trabalho é favorecer o entendimento destes solos no que diz respeito à sua competência como subleito para pavimentos industriais rígidos. É realizada uma revisão sobre modelos de fundação de pavimento, aspectos geológicos e geotécnicos da Formação Guabirotuba, e métodos de determinação do coeficiente de recalque. A análise baseia-se no coeficiente de recalque \"k\" obtido em trinta e duas provas de carga em placa e utiliza uma classificação prática dos solos, quanto ao seu nível de intemperismo: argilas cinzas \"inalteradas\", argilas vermelhas \"laterizadas\" e argilas variegadas \"intemperizadas\", as quais mostram valores decrescentes de coeficiente de recalque, nessa ordem. Notou-se que algumas correlações existentes na literatura permitiram obter razoáveis previsões do coeficiente de recalque, como aquelas baseadas em valores de SPT e de CBR. Os valores de coeficiente de recalque medidos para estes solos mostram-se superiores àqueles sugeridos por tabelas práticas. Devido à variabilidade de resultados encontrada e à influência do subleito no desempenho final do sistema de fundação, fica evidenciada a importância da realização de provas de carga em placa para obtenção dos parâmetros de dimensionamento de pavimentos industriais rígidos. / The present work employs a data base of plate load tests (performed according the ABNT-NBR-6489 and ASTM-D-1196 procedures) in soils of the Guabirotuba Formation, important geological unit of Curitiba metropolitan region. The purpose of the work is the improving of the knowledge of these soils related to their behavior as subgrade for rigid industrial pavements. It is provided a revision about pavements foundation models, geological and geotechnical aspects of the Guabirotuba Formation and methods of the determination of the modulus of subgrade reaction. The analysis is based on the modulus of subgrade reaction \"k\" from 32 plate loading tests and uses a practical classification of the soils, according to their weathering level: intact gray clays, lateritic red clays and weathered variagate clays that showed a derease of the modulus in this order. Some correlations were found to predict fair values of \"k\", such as those based on SPT and on DCP. It was also noticed that the values of the modulus of subgrade reaction obtained are higher than the usual recommendations of the literature. The variability and the influence of the subgrade in the final performance of the pavaments make evident the importance of the plate load tests for obtaining reliable design parameters.

A prova de carga estática lenta é tradicional na engenharia de fundações, no mundo todo. Mas sua realização pode envolver um tempo excessivo e, por isso, tem havido tentativas para reduzir sua duração. O ensaio rápido, ao contrário, é realizado em apenas algumas horas, mas, sem dúvida alguma, os recalques obtidos nesse ensaio são bem inferiores aos do ensaio lento. Uma alternativa promissora pode ser o ensaio pelo método do equilíbrio, que parece reunir as vantagens daquelas duas modalidades. Nesse método, utiliza-se a carga mantida apenas no início do estágio e, depois, deixa-se a carga diminuir livremente até atingir uma condição de equilíbrio, com recalque e carga estabilizados, em cada estágio. Neste trabalho, são apresentadas comparações entre as três modalidades, em ensaios de placa, em modelo, em solo arenoso colapsível, em duas condições: inundado e não-inundado. / The slow mantained load is a traditional test in foundations engineering worldwide. Nevertheless, its implementation may take too long, so there have been attempts to reduce its duration. The quick mantained load test, in other hand, takes only a few hours to be accomplished and the obtained settlements are lower than the slow maintained load test. The method of equilibrium is an attractive option. It seems to combine the advantages of these two methods, using maintained load at the beggining of the stage and then allowing to freely decrease the load to reach its equilibrium. This study compares these three methods in two conditions: non-flooded and flooded colapsive sandy-soil model.

Este trabalho parte de um acervo pré-existente de provas de carga em placa (segundo os procedimentos ABNT-NBR-6489 e ASTM-D-1196) em solos da Formação Guabirotuba, importante unidade geológica da região metropolitana de Curitiba. O objetivo do trabalho é favorecer o entendimento destes solos no que diz respeito à sua competência como subleito para pavimentos industriais rígidos. É realizada uma revisão sobre modelos de fundação de pavimento, aspectos geológicos e geotécnicos da Formação Guabirotuba, e métodos de determinação do coeficiente de recalque. A análise baseia-se no coeficiente de recalque \"k\" obtido em trinta e duas provas de carga em placa e utiliza uma classificação prática dos solos, quanto ao seu nível de intemperismo: argilas cinzas \"inalteradas\", argilas vermelhas \"laterizadas\" e argilas variegadas \"intemperizadas\", as quais mostram valores decrescentes de coeficiente de recalque, nessa ordem. Notou-se que algumas correlações existentes na literatura permitiram obter razoáveis previsões do coeficiente de recalque, como aquelas baseadas em valores de SPT e de CBR. Os valores de coeficiente de recalque medidos para estes solos mostram-se superiores àqueles sugeridos por tabelas práticas. Devido à variabilidade de resultados encontrada e à influência do subleito no desempenho final do sistema de fundação, fica evidenciada a importância da realização de provas de carga em placa para obtenção dos parâmetros de dimensionamento de pavimentos industriais rígidos. / The present work employs a data base of plate load tests (performed according the ABNT-NBR-6489 and ASTM-D-1196 procedures) in soils of the Guabirotuba Formation, important geological unit of Curitiba metropolitan region. The purpose of the work is the improving of the knowledge of these soils related to their behavior as subgrade for rigid industrial pavements. It is provided a revision about pavements foundation models, geological and geotechnical aspects of the Guabirotuba Formation and methods of the determination of the modulus of subgrade reaction. The analysis is based on the modulus of subgrade reaction \"k\" from 32 plate loading tests and uses a practical classification of the soils, according to their weathering level: intact gray clays, lateritic red clays and weathered variagate clays that showed a derease of the modulus in this order. Some correlations were found to predict fair values of \"k\", such as those based on SPT and on DCP. It was also noticed that the values of the modulus of subgrade reaction obtained are higher than the usual recommendations of the literature. The variability and the influence of the subgrade in the final performance of the pavaments make evident the importance of the plate load tests for obtaining reliable design parameters.

A prova de carga estática lenta é tradicional na engenharia de fundações, no mundo todo. Mas sua realização pode envolver um tempo excessivo e, por isso, tem havido tentativas para reduzir sua duração. O ensaio rápido, ao contrário, é realizado em apenas algumas horas, mas, sem dúvida alguma, os recalques obtidos nesse ensaio são bem inferiores aos do ensaio lento. Uma alternativa promissora pode ser o ensaio pelo método do equilíbrio, que parece reunir as vantagens daquelas duas modalidades. Nesse método, utiliza-se a carga mantida apenas no início do estágio e, depois, deixa-se a carga diminuir livremente até atingir uma condição de equilíbrio, com recalque e carga estabilizados, em cada estágio. Neste trabalho, são apresentadas comparações entre as três modalidades, em ensaios de placa, em modelo, em solo arenoso colapsível, em duas condições: inundado e não-inundado. / The slow mantained load is a traditional test in foundations engineering worldwide. Nevertheless, its implementation may take too long, so there have been attempts to reduce its duration. The quick mantained load test, in other hand, takes only a few hours to be accomplished and the obtained settlements are lower than the slow maintained load test. The method of equilibrium is an attractive option. It seems to combine the advantages of these two methods, using maintained load at the beggining of the stage and then allowing to freely decrease the load to reach its equilibrium. This study compares these three methods in two conditions: non-flooded and flooded colapsive sandy-soil model.

To investigate the passive force-displacement relationships provided by a transitional zoned backfill consisting of cement treated aggregate (CTA) and compacted gravel, a series of full-scale lateral abutment load tests were performed. The transitional zoned backfill was designed to minimize differential settlement adjacent to bridge abutments for the California High Speed Rail project. Tests were performed with a 2-D or plane strain backfill geometry to simulate a wide abutment. To investigate the effect of skew angle on the passive force, lateral abutment load tests were also performed with a simulated abutment with skew angles of 30º and 45º. The peak passive force developed was about 2.5 times higher than that predicted with the California HSR design method for granular backfill material with a comparable backwall height and width. The displacement required to develop the peak passive force decreased with skew angle and was somewhat less than for conventional granular backfills. Peak passive force developed with displacements of 3 to 1.8% of the wall height, H in comparison to 3 to 5% of H for conventional granular backfills.The skew angle had less effect on the peak passive force for the transitional backfill than for conventional granular backfills. For example, the passive force reduction factor, Rskew, was only 0.83 and 0.51 for the 30º and 45º skew abutments in comparison to 0.51 and 0.37 for conventional granular backfills. Field measurements suggest that the CTA backfill largely moves with the abutment and does not experience significant heave while shear failure and heaving largely occurs in the granular backfill behind the CTA backfill zone.