An attempt is made to study compaction mechanism by employing a static straincontrolled triaxial apparatus and using saturated Toyoura sand. Specifically, investigations are made into the effects of loading system, repeated number of loading-unloading (
N), and magnitude of allowed radial strain (ε
rc) on consolidation and shear behaviors. For these investigations, repeated
K0-consolidation tests (zero radial strain) are performed. Besides, what are called in this paper “quasi-
K0 consolidation tests” with two types of ε
rc are also performed but only under normal consolidation (
N=1). Results from these tests indicate that different loading systems follow quite different shapes of principal stress paths in repeated
K0-consolidation, and that
N affects the magnitude of internal friction angle (φ'). On the other hand, magnitude of ε
rc also governs consolidation and shear behaviors.
With respect to the strain-controlled loading system, because unloading is controlled by reducing strain,
K0-unloading principal stress path tends to go down along the line of principal stress path of normal consolidation. In contrast, according to previous studies the stress-controlled loading system follows
K0-unloading principal stress path which tends to lie above the line of principal stress path of normal consolidation. Consequently, as compared with stress-controlled loading system, the strain-controlled one is subjected to higher stress deviator during
K0-unloading, thus more particle reorientation occurs followed by higher densification. Meanwhile, when subjected to repeated
K0-consolidation, φ' first decreases and afterwards increases with
N. This result may be understood as the disturbance of the fabric formed at normal consolidation step by the initial unloading. Then the fabric is reconstituted into another new one, and becomes denser with
N.
On the other hand, the
K-value obtained from quasi-
K0 consolidation test fluctuates and is larger than the
K-value from
K0-consolidation test. However, the
K-values obtained from both tests tend to approach one another following consolidation. This result suggests that even when employing consolidation tests in which some radial strain occurs, as long as the consolidation continues, an accurate
K-value can also be obtained. Moreover, in quasi-
K0 consolidation tests when magnitude of ε
rc increases, the dilatancy rate generated in shearing decreases, and thereby φ' drops. Consequently, it can be known that radial strain conditions in consolidation step considerably affects mechanical properties of soil.
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