Linkage between static and cyclic liquefaction of loose sand with a range of fines contents

Abstract

The underlying mechanism of static and cyclic liquefaction of loose contractant sandy soil is unstable behaviour associated with deviatoric strain-softening. Such unstable (strain-softening) behaviour has been referred to as static or cyclic instability depending on whether the loading condition is monotonic or cyclic. Past research into linkage between static instability and cyclic instability of sand with fines is based largely on comparing monotonic and one-way cyclic loading behaviour of specimens of the same void ratio and fines content. In this article, the authors attempt to link the condition that defines triggering of cyclic instability to that of static instability of specimens of different void ratios and fines contents. This is achieved by the proposed concept of equivalent granular state parameter. Two specimens are considered as equivalent if they have the same equivalent granular state parameters at the start of undrained shearing. The effective stress ratio at triggering of static instability can be used to predict impending cyclic instability of an equivalent specimen of different fines content and void ratio. This linkage between static and cyclic instability was evaluated for a wide range of fines contents, initial mean effective stresses, and types of cyclic loading. The last factor includes symmetrical and nonsymmetrical two-way cyclic loading.