What is the primary purpose of conducting confined compression tests on soil?

The primary purpose of conducting confined compression tests on soil is to measure vertical displacement under load. This test is crucial for understanding how soil behaves when subjected to compressive forces, which is common in various engineering applications, such as foundation design and geotechnical assessments.

During the test, soil samples are subjected to controlled vertical loads, and the resulting deformation is measured. This information allows engineers to assess the compressibility of the soil, calculate settlement, and design structures that can safely bear loads without excessive deformation.

While other aspects of soil behavior, such as permeability, plasticity, and shear strength, are essential in geotechnical engineering, they are evaluated through different testing methods. For instance, permeability tests measure water flow through soil, plasticity tests evaluate the consistency and ductility of soil under varying moisture content, and shear strength tests determine the soil's resistance to sliding forces. Each of these tests provides valuable insights for specific engineering conditions but does not focus primarily on vertical displacement under load like the confined compression test does.