A novel method for estimating the elastic modulus of frozen soil

Abstract

In order to provide more reliable design parameters for geotechnical engineering, a completely analytical theory, which based on the assumption of linear elastic deformation in tension, is developed to determine the compressive elastic modulus and the tensile elastic modulus of materials simultaneously. With the Brazilian test method, the quantity-relationship between the displacement and the elastic modulus was derived. Five Brazilian splitting tests are used to check out the operability of the proposed test theory. The results show that the compressive elastic modulus is larger than the tensile elastic modulus under all loading conditions adopted in the test. The two elastic moduli in tension and compression change with the elapsed time when the samples are still in the elastic deformation stage. This is different from the previous consensus that is the elastic modulus is treated as a constant during the elastic deformation stage. This paper explores the reasons for those differences from the calculation method. The test results indicate that the proposed test method is feasible and liable, and can be treated as a convenient way to determine the elastic modulus through the Brazilian test. It was further thought that a new approach could be provided to estimate the compressive and tensile elastic moduli in Brazilian tests.