Abstract
This report summarizes the results of international parallel test on the measurement of the elastic shear modulus at very small strains, Gmax, using bender elements which was carried out from 2003 to 2005 by technical committee, TC29 (Stress-strain and Strength Testing of Geomaterials) of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. The purpose was to evaluate the consistency of the bender element test results obtained by applying the exactly similar test material as well as the test method besides identifying the various existing hardware and software being used in this test. It was decided that the domestic TC29 group of Japanese Geotechnical Society (TC29-JGS) was expected to lead this international co-operation. By 2005, reports of the test results were obtained from 23 institutions from 11 countries. This report has been prepared by TC29-JGS taking a leading role from the beginning. A standard test method is proposed here in order to obtain more accurate data from the bender element test by examining various test methods adopted at different institutions worldwide and the effects of various factors on the test results.
