Strength Parameters of Red Sandstone Granular Soil Based on Three-Dimensional Limit Equilibrium Method

Red sandstone granular soil has been broadly applied to construct all kinds of embankment. In order to carry on the engineering application of red sandstone granular soil, the study on its strength parameters has been a very important task. Therefore, the computation formulas for horizontal push-shear tests of red sandstone granular soil were inferred based on three-dimensional limit equilibrium method. The strength parameters of red sandstone granular soil were calculated using the proposed formulas. The results show that its cohesion c and internal friction angle φ increase along with decrease of water content ratio of the specimen, and rise along with enhance of its compaction. The average value of the specimens' strength parameters calculated by three-dimensional technique is 21.56k Pa and 29.29 degree, respectively, and the variance of the computational results by three-dimensional method is obviously less than that by traditional two-dimensional method.