Effect of void ratio on K0 of loose sand

Abstract

The coefficient of lateral earth pressure at rest, K(sub 0), is a key soil parameter for geotechnical design. A study was conducted to examine whether K(sub 0) is affected by the void ratio for loose sand. Triaxial K(sub 0) consolidation tests were conducted on loose sand with various void ratios to study the stress-strain behaviour of loose sand under K(sub 0) conditions. A marine-dredged silica sand from a large land reclamation site in Singapore was used in the study. Loose specimens were prepared by the moist tamping (MT) method and by the water sedimentation (WS) method. For loose specimens prepared using the MT method, the K(sub 0) value and the stress-strain behaviour were strongly dependent on void ratio. Generally, the K(sub 0) value increased with increasing looseness of the sand. The effect of the void ratio on the K(sub 0) value was less significant for medium loose specimens prepared using the WS method. A relationship between the K(sub 0) value and the void ratio was developed.