The influence of fines on the deformation properties of sands imposed to dynamic loading

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a laboratory investigation into the influence of fines content on the deformation properties of sandy soils. In particular, specimens of artificial mixtures of sand with nonplastic and plastic fines were subjected to dynamic loading under undrained conditions by means of resonant column tests, and values of shear modulus, G, and damping ratio, D, as well as excess pore water pressure, Δu, at various levels of shear strain, γ, were measured. The test results show that the behaviour of the tested soils, which is different from that of clean sands, depends on fines content, fines plasticity and soil fabric. It is also shown that the effect of fines content and type on the shear modulus of mixtures can be quantified by means of an equivalent intergranular or interfine void ratio, (eg) eq or (ef)eq respectively. © 2015 Taylor & Francis Group.