This research develops a novel approach to measure and verify the extent of disturbances induced while preparing soil samples for geomechanic tests. The soil will be modeled as a dilatant strain-hardening frictional material to account for soil-wall interface effects during sampling. An elaborately designed laboratory arrangement will be used to monitor induced disturbances and determine the extent of stress and pore water pressure changes while taking samples from a soil block. The results from the model study will be correlated with experimental data. The importance of measuring induced disturbances in soil samples has been well recognized by the geomechanic community. A quantitative method to assess the extent of these disturbances has, thus far, not been developed. The research approach is innovative and has a potential to make a significant impact in geomechanic experimentation.
