The Coupled Influence of Relative Density, CSR, Plasticity and Content of Fines on Cyclic Liquefaction Resistance of Sands

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, stress-controlled cyclic simple shear tests were performed on sand specimens with up to 10% silt or clay contents, and coupled effects of plasticity, fines content (FC), relative density (DR) and CSR (cyclic stress ratio) were investigated. The results demonstrated that for sands with low fines content, reasonable trends were obtained when the packing index control parameter was selected as DR. Also, clean sand specimens demonstrated highest liquefaction strength compared with that of sands with fines up to 10% FC. The effect of fines’ plasticity became apparent as the FC increases and CSR reduces in relatively denser specimens.