Determination of basics mechanical properties in a tropical clay soil as a function of dry bulk density and moisture.

Specific information about physical-mechanical properties of soil is a support for simulation by computation techniques as Finite Element and Discrete Element methods to predict the soil behavior during soil tool interaction. Determination of basics mechanical properties needed for mathematical modeling of clay soils on the arable layer were carried out using triaxial compression and modified shear box test. Variations in shear strength, Yong's modulus, internal friction angle, soil-metal friction angle, cohesion and adhesion were determined at different experimental levels of gravimetric water content and soil dry bulk density. Multi-factorial regression analysis to estimate the corresponding values of above properties was performed resulting on statistical prediction equations for all basic mechanical properties under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]