Unified Model for Small-Strain Shear Modulus of Variably Saturated Soil
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 142, Issue 9
Abstract
The small-strain shear modulus is a property fundamental to the deformation response of soils to dynamic loading. It depends on soil mineralogy, particle characteristics, void ratio, effective stress, and the degree of saturation. Some theories have been established to predict of soils under variably saturated conditions. Accordingly, a new unified model was developed for of different soils under variably saturated conditions. The model is based on two conceptual mechanisms: material hardening/softening, which is considered using the degree of saturation as a variable, and interparticle contact forces carried by the soil skeleton, which is considered using the effective stress as a variable. By utilizing suction stress theory, it is demonstrated that can be correlated to the parameters of the soil-water retention curve. Results from the literature for 22 soils along with new results for 7 soils were used to validate the model under variably saturated conditions and a range of total stresses.
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Acknowledgments
This research is supported by grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF CMMI-1230544) to Ning Lu and John S. McCartney.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 142 • Issue 9 • September 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 6, 2015
Accepted: Jan 25, 2016
Published online: Apr 26, 2016
Published in print: Sep 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Sep 26, 2016
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