Investigating the Influence of Sand Particle Morphology on Post-Liquefaction Volumetric Strain of Two Uniform Sands

Soil liquefaction is a phenomenon where soil loses its strength and stiffness during strong shaking or vibrations, which can lead to a change in the volume of the soil following liquefaction. This process can have significant consequences on infrastructure in earthquake-prone areas. To better understand the impact of soil liquefaction, many studies have focused on evaluating the post-liquefaction volumetric strain. However, there have been few studies that have isolated the effects of particle angularity on post-liquefaction volume changes. The objective of this study was to better understand the effect of particle angularity on post-liquefaction volumetric strain. To achieve this, the study compared two types of sands, one rounded (35-50 silica) and one sub-angular (#2 quartz). A cyclic simple shear device was used to perform the liquefaction and post-liquefaction tests, and the specimens were prepared in a loose state while achieving the same density and void ratio, ensuring consistency between the two different sands. The specimens were consolidated to a pressure of 100 kPa and were then subjected to cyclic shear at a constant volume. Cyclic stress ratios ranging from 0.05 to 0.3 were used to perform cyclic liquefaction tests. The results of the laboratory tests showed that sub-angular sand had approximately half of the volumetric strain after liquefaction compared to the rounded sand. Results were compared with existing relationships for post-liquefaction volumetric strain prediction, and it was found that the relationships overpredicted strains for the sub-angular sand. The findings of this study are important in providing a deeper understanding of the effects of particle angularity on soil liquefaction and post-liquefaction volumetric strain.