Cemented Sands under Static Loading

Cemented sands are found in many areas of the world; one of their distinguishing characteristics is their ability to stand in steep natural slopes. Large deposits are located along the California coast, and in a number of areas intense urban development has occurred near the crest of high, steep slopes. Because of the hazards posed by slope failures in the cemented sands, a test program was undertaken to define the nature of the cementation and its effect on behavior of the soils. A total of 137 laboratory compression and tension load tests were performed on undisturbed samples of naturally cemented sands and artificially prepared cemented sands. The materials exhibited friction angles similar to uncemented sands, but had a cementation strength intercept and a tensile strength. The primary cementing agents of the sands tested were silicates and iron oxides. The strength of the cemented sands were found to be a function of density, amount of cementing agent, grain shape and grain arrangement.