Quantifying Void Ratio Variation in Sand Using Computed Tomography
Publication: Geotechnical Measurements: Lab and Field
Abstract
A series of displacement-controlled, conventional, drained axisymmetric (triaxial) experiments were conducted on dry Ottawa sand specimens at very low effective confining stresses in a microgravity environment aboard the Space Shuttle during the NASA STS-89 mission. Post-flight analysis included studying the internal fabric and failure patterns of these specimens using Computed Tomography (CT). The CT scans of three specimens subjected to different compression levels (uncompressed specimen, a specimen compressed to 3.3% nominal axial strain (εa), and a specimen compressed to 25% &eh;a) are presented to investigate the evolution of instability patterns and to quantify void ratio variation. The progress of failure is described and discussed. Also, specimens' densities were calibrated using standard ASTM procedures and void ratio spatial variation was calculated and represented by contour maps and histograms. The CT technique demonstrated good ability to detect specimen inhomogeneities, localization patterns, and quantifying void ratio variation within sand specimens.
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Copyright
© 2000 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Apr 26, 2012
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Analysis (by type)
- Compression
- Computing in civil engineering
- Continuum mechanics
- Dynamics (solid mechanics)
- Effective stress
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Failure analysis
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Methodology (by type)
- Radiography
- Rock mechanics
- Sandy soils
- Soil mechanics
- Soil properties
- Soil stress
- Soils (by type)
- Solid mechanics
- Stress (by type)
- Structural analysis
- Structural dynamics
- Structural engineering
- Void ratio
- Voids
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