Liquefaction Behavior of Dense Sand Relating to the Degree of Saturation

Abstract

This paper aims to study the behaviour of dense RF Hostun sand subjected to dynamic loading in the triaxial cell. The wet tamping method was used to prepare the samples with the same initial conditions including water content and void ratio. The samples were firstly saturated to dissolve the remaining air bubbles inside the samples. After that, all the samples were consolidated isotropically then the cyclic deviator stress was applied to study liquefaction. All tests show that, saturation affects significantly to the cyclic stress ratio needed to liquefy the sample. The samples having an equal degree of saturation were liquefied by the same level of deviator stress; however, there is a great difference in the load cycles causing liquefaction. This consequence suggests that besides the void ratio and the saturation degree, the different soil fabrics (caused by sample preparation technique) can effect on the sand liquefaction susceptibility and as well the triggering time of liquefaction in situ or in the laboratory.