Rate-Dependent Response of Dense Sand in Cyclic Triaxial Tests

Abstract

A number of cyclic triaxial tests were performed on Monterey No. 0/30 and Sacramento River Sand to investigate the effect that loading frequency has on the response of sands. The tests were performed on dense, air pluviated sand with loading frequencies of 0.1 and 1.5 Hz at varying confining pressures, cyclic shear stresses, and peak shear stresses. Under certain loading conditions, the frequency of loading did have a noticeable effect on the response of the sand; larger axial strains were measured in the samples that were subjected to the lower frequency of loading. This difference in response measured at the two loading frequencies occurred mainly in the first few cycles of loading, when the difference in the strain rates was the greatest. Conditions that resulted in larger axial strains, such higher stress levels and larger cyclic shear stresses, also resulted in a greater difference between the axial strains measured at the two loading frequencies.