Caliches or caliche soils are deposited mostly in the southern parts of the United States and a more mature type of caliche is widely used as a construction material. Little data exists in the literature pertaining to the static and dynamic properties of caliche soil. The properties of caliche soil will be determined by the ASK cyclic triaxial apparatus, model DTC-283 which is capable of conducting static, cyclic, and irregular dynamic loading tests. An IBM computer PC can be programmed to control the amplitude of cyclic axial stress. The amplitude response of vibration similar to that of vibrating foundations and earthquake shaking can be simulated to replace the sinusoidal cyclic axial loading condition. The following different types of triaxial loading conditions for evaluating the static and dynamic properties of caliche soil can be conducted by the proposed equipment: 1. Static and regular cyclic loading; 2. Stepwise increase in amplitude of cyclic loading; 3. Irregular dynamic loading with two different types of time histories: the earthquake spectrum, and the vertical response of a vibrating foundation. Test results are presented in the form of dynamic stress ratios with the corresponding axial strains. The results are applicable to problems where the caliche soil is used as a structural material for road bases and for foundations subjected to either static or dynamic loading.
