Shear Strength and Stiffness of Silty Sand
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 126, Issue 5
Abstract
The properties of clean sands pertaining to shear strength and stiffness have been studied extensively. However, natural sands generally contain significant amounts of silt and/or clay. The mechanical response of such soils is different from that of clean sands. This paper addresses the effects of nonplastic fines on the small-strain stiffness and shear strength of sands. A series of laboratory tests was performed on samples of Ottawa sand with fines content in the range of 5–20% by weight. The samples were prepared at different relative densities and were subjected to various levels of mean effective consolidation stress. Most of the triaxial tests were conducted to axial strains in excess of 30%. The stress-strain responses were recorded, and the shear strength and dilatancy parameters were obtained for each fines percentage. Bender element tests performed in triaxial test samples allowed assessment of the effect of fines content on small-strain mechanical stiffness.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 126 • Issue 5 • May 2000
Pages: 451 - 462
History
Received: Dec 10, 1997
Published online: May 1, 2000
Published in print: May 2000
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