Abstract
To evaluate how generally the results of triaxial or plane strain compression tests on Toyoura sand can be used, the effects of several factors on the strength and deformation characteristics at low stress levels were investigated. The factors are (1) a freeze-thaw sequence in the sample preparation phase, (2) the wet condition during shearing, air-dry or satureted, (3) an oven-drying sequence and (4) repeated usage in model tests under the airdry condition. It was found that the effects are very small or negligible at low stress levels of σ3'=0.05∼1.0 kgf.cm2. A load cell built to measure the axial load inside a triaxial cell in the tests at σ3'=0.05 kgf/cm2 is also described in detail.
