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Liquefaction susceptibility study of sandy soils: effect of low plastic fines

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Abstract

The objective of this paper is to present a study on the mechanical behavior of three Algerian sands through cyclic triaxial tests with focus on the effect of the fines content. The particularity of this study is to keep the amount of the sand material matrix as a constant parameter for the entire range of fines content. This choice was considered due to the difficulty to determine experimentally the maximum and minimum void ratios of soil mixtures for fines content exceeding 15 %. The materials used in this investigation are originated from two different regions (Chlef and Boumerdes) in northern Algeria and are known for their higher seismicity levels. By varying the cyclic stress ratios and the proportion of fines contained naturally in the sand, a series of cyclic triaxial tests were carried out on reconstituted samples with a density index of 0.5 and an initial confining pressure of 100 kPa, on a servo-controlled dynamic machine with a sinusoidal frequency signal of 0.05 Hz and alternated symmetrical cycles. Comparing the clean and natural sands, the test results indicate that the presence of fines influences significantly the liquefaction resistance. Indeed, the fines content increases the liquefaction resistance for Zemmouri sand, decreases or stabilizes it for the Rass and Chlef sands, respectively. The effect of fines on the Chlef and Rass sands is in good agreement with the published literature, where the liquefaction resistance decreases to a threshold value and then increases with the increase of the fines content. This study can be used in soil classification and determination of liquefaction potential of seismic areas with smaller amounts of fines.

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Abbreviations

B :

Skempton’s coefficient (B = Δu c/Δp cell)

C c :

Coefficient of curvature (C c = (D 30)2/(D 10 × D 60))

CSR:

Cyclic stress ratio (CSR = q m/2σ′c)

C u :

Coefficient of uniformity (C u = D 60/D 10)

D (in millimeter):

Diameter

D 10 (in millimeter):

Effective grain size

D 30, D 60 (in millimeter):

Grain size corresponding to 10 and 60 % finer, respectively

D 50 (in millimeter):

Mean grain size

e :

Global void ratio

e f :

Interfine void ratio

e max :

Maximum void ratio

e min :

Minimum void ratio

E S (in percent):

Sand equivalent

e s :

Intergranular void ratio

FC (in percent):

Fines content

FCth (in percent):

Threshold fines content

f (Hz):

Frequency

G s :

Specific gravity of sand

H (in millimeter):

Height

I D :

Density index (I D = (e max−e)/(e max−e min))

I p (in percent):

Plasticity index (I p = w l − w p)

N :

Number of cycles of loading

N Liq :

Number of cycles to liquefaction

p’ (in kilopascal):

Effective mean stress (p′ = (σ′1 + 2σ′3)/3)

q (in kilopascal):

Deviator stress (q = σ′1 − σ′3)

q m (in kilopascal):

Loading amplitude

R 2 :

Coefficient of correlation

SP/Sm:

Poorly graded sand

Δp cell (in kilopascal):

Cell pressure increment

Δu (in kilopascal):

Excess of pore water pressure

Δu c (in kilopascal):

Pore pressure increment

ε a (in percent):

Axial strain

ρ dmax (in gram per cubic centimeter):

Maximum density of the solid grains

ρ dmin (in gram per cubic centimeter):

Minimum density of the solid grains

σ′c (in kilopascal):

Initial confining pressure

w l (in percent):

Liquid limit

w p (in percent):

Plastic limit

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Materials Sciences & Environment, Hassiba Benbouali University of Chlef, B.P 151, Hay Salem, Route Nationale No. 19, 02000, Chlef, Algeria

    Yassine Benghalia

  2. Civil Engineering Department, Saâd Dahlab University of Blida, B.P 270 RP, Route de Soumaa, Blida, 09000, Algeria

    Ali Bouafia

  3. Navier Laboratory, CERMES, Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, 6-8 avenue Blaise Pascal, Cité Descartes, Champs-sur-Marne, 77455, Marne-la-Vallée Cedex 2, France

    Jean Canou & Jean-Claude Dupla

Authors
  1. Yassine Benghalia
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  2. Ali Bouafia
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  3. Jean Canou
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  4. Jean-Claude Dupla
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Correspondence to Yassine Benghalia.

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Benghalia, Y., Bouafia, A., Canou, J. et al. Liquefaction susceptibility study of sandy soils: effect of low plastic fines. Arab J Geosci 8, 605–618 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-013-1255-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-013-1255-0

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