Static and cyclic liquefaction of granular materials considering grain morphology

Abstract

In this study, a series of undrained monotonic and cyclic triaxial shear tests were performed on glass sands to evaluate the effect of grain morphology on the static and cyclic undrained response of granular materials. The grain morphology of five test materials prepared with two glass sands with significant shape discrepancy was quantified with an image-based method. The test results show that as the overall regularity decreases, the peak and steady state stress ratios increase, and the dilatancy is suppressed. The development of excess pore water pressure and accumulated axial strain as well as the rate of stiffness degradation are lowered as the overall regularity decreases. The results also reveal that excess pore water pressure is correlated well with the cyclic stiffness degradation index. The liquefaction resistance decreases with the increase of the overall regularity.