Advanced testing and characterization of transportation soils and bituminous sands

Abstract

This research study was intended to develop laboratory test procedures for advance testing and characterization of fine-grained cohesive soils and oil sand materials. The test procedures are based on typical field loading conditions and the loading characteristics of large capacity construction and mining equipment. The study also aimed to provide a better understanding of the behavior of the materials tested, and support efforts to properly model soil and oil sand behavior under both static and dynamic loads. The laboratory test results were also intended to provide both a comprehensive database of geomaterial properties that can be used to improve designs of construction and mining equipment and a set of guidelines for the future development of laboratory testing protocols and material characterization models for predicting the behavior of fine-grained cohesive soils and oil sand materials