' (the angle of friction in saturated conditions). Similarly, the packet fabric also affects the angle b (representing the strength component due to matric suction). Dry of optimum moisture content, b becomes significantly lower than ' and at low water contents drops to zero. The normal practice for determining the shear strength properties of unsaturated soils (by multi-stage tests in which the suction is increased from an initial low suction state) will result in the packet fabric being destroyed in the first stage of shearing. Therefore, to properly study the shear strength behaviour of unsaturated compacted soils, tests should be performed on the soil in an "as compacted" condition. " />