INFLUENCE OF LABORATORY SAMPLE PREPARATION PROCEDURES ON THE STRENGTH AND STIFFNESS OF INTACT BOTHKENNAR SOIL RECOVERED USING THE LAVAL SAMPLER

Undrained triaxial compression tests were carried out on samples of intact Bothkennar soil recovered using a Laval sampler. The laboratory test samples were cut from the Laval sample using different techniques including pushing a thin-walled tube, trimming with a wire saw and variations of the method described by Landva (1964). The results show that the method of sample trimming had a significant influence on the strengths and stiffnesses measured. They indicate that, for this soil, sample preparation using wire saw trimming causes the least disturbance.