Sample Disturbance and Stress-Strain Behavior

Different effects of sample disturbance were simulated in a resonant column apparatus that clearly show the change in stress-strain behavior when the sample is subjected to swelling, reconsolidation, shear strain, or total stress changes. A new framework that applies the concept of reference strain is suggested for considering disturbance effects on stress-strain behavior, based on results of laboratory and field measurements. The normalized behavior of a soil can be determined with high accuracy in the laboratory. By also measuring the shear strength and initial tangent modulus in the field it is possible to accurately describe in situ stress-strain behavior.