Abstract
In this paper, a series of loading tests on sand ground were conducted under both gravitational field and centrifuge force field. A newly developed image analysis method, CCIP method (Cross Correlation and IsoParameteric method) was used to observe the deformation behaviour of sand ground. Main conclusions are drawn as follow: According to the load-settlement relationship curves, typical general shearing failure could have occurred inside the ground. However, it was proved by the observation of deformation behaviours in the tests that a pattern of progressive deformation and progressive failure happened. Before the peak of load, the main type of deformation in sand ground is compressive deformation. Passive zone, including intermediate zone, did not appear clearly in this stage. The main difference of deformation behaviour between gravitational tests and centrifugal tests is the compressive deformation. The shear zones of these two kinds of test showed almost same distributions.
