Minimum Undrained Strength of Two Sands
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 116, Issue 6
Abstract
Results of consolidated isotropically undrained triaxial tests (CIU) on samples of reconstituted sands are presented to establish the conditions required to induce strain‐softening during monotonic loading. It is found that the mean steady‐state line (F line), commonly used for the evaluation of liquefaction potential, is not uniquely related to void ratio for a given sand. Rather, the tests reveal that initial effective confining stress also influences the undrained behavior of granular material. Furthermore, the tests confirm the existence of upper and lower limits of the F line, which are defined as the UF and LF lines, respectively. The minimum undrained strength corresponds to the LF line and thus is smaller than the mean steady‐state strength. The minimum undrained strength depends upon the initial state defined by both void ratio and effective confining stress. The initial state also controls the shape of the stress‐strain curve.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 116 • Issue 6 • June 1990
Pages: 932 - 947
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 ASCE.
History
Published online: Jun 1, 1990
Published in print: Jun 1990
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