Suction-controlled triaxial testing: Laboratory procedures in relation to resistance envelope methods

In certain tropical slopes it appears possible that soil suction may play a significant role in maintaining stability. This communication outlines a laboratory suction-controlled triaxial test that can be undertaken to validate the threshold suction predicted by resistance envelope methods. It is shown that for two sites examined in St. Lucia, West Indies, the results from such a test confirm results obtained by use of resistance envelopes.