An Improved Rotating Cylinder Test Design for Laboratory Measurement of Erosion in Clayey Soils

Abstract An improved Rotating Cylinder Test (RCT) device is designed and manufactured for laboratory measurement of erosion in clay soils. The improved device provides for a rapid and practical procedure for sample assembly and allows testing cylindrical samples 100 mm in height and 100 mm in diameter. It also provides the ability for direct and accurate measurement of hydraulic shear stress and erosion rate. The improved RCT apparatus has been calibrated using dummy samples to isolate the torque applied to the soil surface. A control program has been developed to operate the RCT and record test data for analysis. Sample preparation for compacted clay soils has been discussed for both saturated and unsaturated states. Typical erosion test results are presented for a clay soil.