DYNAMIC DEFORMATION CHARACTERISTICS OF SANDY SOILS UNDER LOW CONFINING PRESSURE

Abstract

Dynamic modulus of rigidity and damping coefficient of sandy soils under low confining pressures (less than around 20kPa) were investigated in the present study. Series of cyclic simple shear tests in which horizontal inertia force is applied on the surface of the specimen by use of a shaking table apparatus were performed on Toyoura sand and a compacted sandy soil. Some features associated with deformation parameters such as their dependencies on confining pressure and shear strain amplitude were examined, and the results were compared with those of cyclic triaxial and torsional shear tests conducted under routine high confining pressures in order to discuss characteristic differences and correlation between parameters obtained in low and high stress ranges.