Image based local deformation measurement of saturated sand specimen in undrained cyclic triaxial tests

Abstract

To evaluate the local deformation properties of sand specimen directly in the undrained triaxial test, a procedure based on Particle Image Velocimetry was developed through using a transparent membrane. Cylindrical specimens using a mixture of silica sand particles in black and white colors were prepared by the moist tamping method with five sand layers and the air pluviation method. Comparisons of local deformations between the direct evaluation by sand particles patterns and indirect evaluation by dots pasted on the membrane were made for a single specimen. The results obtained in the undrained cyclic triaxial tests revealed that the local deformation properties of medium dense and dense silica sand specimens evaluated by the indirect observation were consistent with those evaluated by the direct observation before the onset of initial liquefaction, except for some regions near the bottom ends of the specimen. Unlike the air pluviation method, the moist tamping method induced undesirable stratification within the specimen, and this resulted in the occurrence of specimen necking. Meanwhile, a non-uniform local strain distribution was observed along the specimen prepared by moist tamping method even under an axial strain less than 2%. The relative movement between the membrane and sand specimen, or slippage, occurred at the liquefied status. The extent of vertical slippage was also impacted by the relative density of the specimen.