Abstract
Most of the correlations readily available in the literature are based on laboratory tests performed on clean, low compressibility, rounded quartz sands. These correlations are extended to predict the behavior of all types of sands regardless of their angularity and mineralogy. While the importance of both the engineering characteristics and mechanical properties of sands has been recognized for quite some time, very few comparative studies are available. In this study, model plate load tests, model standard penetration tests and direct shear tests were conducted on three angular compressible natural sands and one commercially available rounded sand of low compressibility. Based on the results of these tests, it is shown that at a given relative density, blow count in the model standard penetration test, failure load in the model plate load test, Terzaghi's bearing capacity factor, Nγ, and angle of shearing resistance are much higher for the angular compressible sands as compared with those for the rounded, low compressibility sand. Moreover, a sand with micaceous flakes was found to behave in a much different way as compared to quartz sands during the model tests. The effect of sand type on packing characteristics obtained by raining technique is also emphasized.
