Abstract
The dynamic properties of compacted non-cohesive soils are desired not only because of the risk of natural sources of dynamic excitations such as earthquakes, but mostly because of the anthropogenic impact of machines that are working on such soils. These soils are often unsaturated, which positively affects the soil’s mechanical properties. The information about the values of these parameters is highly desirable for engineers. In this article, we performed a series of tests, including oedometric tests, resonant column tests, bender element tests, and unsaturated triaxial tests, to evaluate those characteristic parameters. The results showed that sandy silt soil has a typical reaction to dynamic loading in terms of shear modulus degradation and the damping ratio curves’ characteristics, which can be modeled by using empirical equations. We found that the compaction procedure caused an over-consolidation state dependent on the moisture content during compaction effort. The article analyzed the soil properties that impact the maximum shear modulus G0 value. Those properties were suction s, confining pressure σ3, and compaction degree represented by the void ratio function f(e).
Highlights
The development of geotechnical constructions such as roads, railways, levees, and foundations around the globe forces engineers to build road constructions on so far unsuitable subgrades for such purposes [1,2,3,4,5]
The results showed that the small strain shear modulus G0 was a function of the stress state and degree of compactness of the silty sand
To complement the existing literature, we performed tests on unsaturated silty soil in a small strain range to find the relationship between the unsaturated soil state parameters and the shear modulus characteristics
Summary
The development of geotechnical constructions such as roads, railways, levees, and foundations around the globe forces engineers to build road constructions on so far unsuitable subgrades for such purposes [1,2,3,4,5]. The results of the resonant column tests showed that the low amplitude shear modulus increased with confining pressure, which was observed by Papakyriakopoulos et al [8]. The results showed that the small strain shear modulus G0 was a function of the stress state and degree of compactness of the silty sand. To complement the existing literature, we performed tests on unsaturated silty soil in a small strain range to find the relationship between the unsaturated soil state parameters and the shear modulus characteristics. Characterization of the small strain behavior of the soil with the use of the resonant column test to obtain theMethods initial shear modulus and shear modulus characteristics, as well as the damping. The Proctor test showed that the maximal bulk density was equal to 1.89 g·cm−3 , and this value was taken for further calculations. emax and emin were equal to 1.288 and 0.444, respectively
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