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Experimental Estimation of Fabric in Granular Materials Using Shear Wave Velocity Measurements

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Soil Dynamics

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering ((LNCE,volume 119))

Abstract

The arrangement of soil particles and inter-particle contacts constitutes the basis of the soil fabric, which influences the behavior of sandy and clayey soils and can lead to anisotropic soil properties and behavior. Experimental studies have quantified soil fabric using non-destructive methods, such as X-ray computed tomography, which require specialized equipment and complex analysis techniques. Such studies have reported the effect of soil fabric on the small strain shear modulus (Gmax) and shear strength and dilative behavior of coarse- and fine-grained soils. The purpose of this study is to develop an indirect measure of coarse-grained soil fabric using shear wave velocity (Vs) measurements for coarse-grained materials with different particle shapes. Vs is obtained in different directions using a multi-bender element system consisting of five bender element pairs. The test results are presented as polar distributions of Vs, indicating that particle shape and sample preparation methods influence the stiffness anisotropy. The results highlight the potential of using Vs measurements in different orientations to obtain an indirect estimation of a soil specimen’s fabric.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Mandeep Singh Basson, Jasmine Miller & Alejandro Martinez

Authors
  1. Mandeep Singh Basson
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  2. Jasmine Miller
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  3. Alejandro Martinez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mandeep Singh Basson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India

    T. G. Sitharam

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru, Karnataka, India

    S. V. Dinesh

  3. Department of Earthquake Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India

    Ravi Jakka

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Basson, M.S., Miller, J., Martinez, A. (2021). Experimental Estimation of Fabric in Granular Materials Using Shear Wave Velocity Measurements. In: Sitharam, T.G., Dinesh, S.V., Jakka, R. (eds) Soil Dynamics. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 119. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4001-5_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4001-5_28

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-33-4000-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-33-4001-5

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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