Predicting the Small Strain Stiffness of a Calcareous Sand Considering Sample Preparation Method and Stress Path

Abstract

AbstractThis study examines the effect of the sample preparation method on the empirical-determined constants in the Hardin equation for predicting the small strain stiffness of a calcareous sand. Multi-directional bender element tests are performed in a triaxial cell under isotropic and anisotropic consolidation stress paths. Five sample preparation methods as air and water pluviation, dry and moist tamping and dry funnel deposition are used as the sample reconstitution techniques. Test results show that the sample preparation method has a considerable impact on the constants in the Hardin equation. Moist tamping samples show the highest A and the lowest n compared with the samples made by the other preparation methods. The lowest A and the highest n are found in the dry funnel deposition method. It is concluded that a higher A always corresponds with a lower n and the magnitude of the constants are related to the stability of the sample fabric. It is also shown that the constants determined in the anisotropic consolidation tests correspond well with the constants in the isotropic consolidation.