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Influence of the Particle Size on the Flow Potential and Friction Index of Partially Saturated Sandy Soils

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Abstract

The particle characteristics of sandy soils play a major role in the shear strength response in terms of the flow potential and friction index of partially saturated sandy soils. In this context, a series of an experimental study based on monotonic undrained triaxial compression tests were conducted on two groups of sandy soils with three maximum particle sizes (Dmax = 4.00 mm, 2.00 mm, and 1.00 mm) and two different effective diameters (D10 = 0.08 mm and 0.25 mm). The samples were reconstituted in the laboratory with a wet deposition method at an initial relative density of (Dr = 25%), tested under three different Skempton’s pore pressure parameters (B = 20%, 50%, and 90%) and subjected to a constant confining pressure (P′c = 100 kPa). The obtained test results indicate that the maximum particle size (Dmax) has a significant influence on the shear strength response of the tested sandy soil samples. Indeed, the undrained shear strength increases with the increase of the maximum particle size and it is more significant in the case of the lower Skempton’s pore pressure parameter (B = 20%) compared to the higher and medium ones (B = 50% and B = 90%). However, the maximum particle size can be considered a reliable parameter to predict the steady-state and the instability friction angle, and also it has a noticeable effect on the friction index and the flow potential of sandy soils. Finally, Skempton’s pore pressure parameter could be related to the steady-state and the instability friction angle, the friction index and the flow potential of sandy soils under consideration.

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Abbreviations

Ai, Bi, and Ci :

Soil samples

B:

Skempton’s pore pressure parameter

Cu :

Coefficient of uniformity

Cc :

Coefficient of curvature

D:

Diameter of the sample

Dmax :

Maximum particle diameter

Dmin :

Minimum particle diameter

D10 :

Effective grain size

D50 :

Mean grain size

Dr :

Initial relative density

ei :

Initial void ratio

emax and emin :

Extreme void ratios

Fc :

Fine content

FI:

Friction index

Gs :

Specific gravity

H:

Height of the sample

P′c :

Initial confining pressure

q:

Deviator stress

qpeak :

Undrained peak shear strength

qss :

Steady-state shear strength

R2 :

Coefficient of determination

USCS:

Unified Soil Classification System

Vf :

Flow potential

ω:

Water content

ins :

Instability friction angle

ss :

Steady-state friction angle

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Acknowledgements

This research work was carried out in the Laboratory of Soil Mechanics, Foundation Engineering & Environmental Geotechnics in the context of mutual scientific cooperation between (Laboratory of Material Sciences & Environment) Hassiba Benbouali University of Chlef (Algeria) and Ruhr-Universitat of Bochum (Germany). The authors are thankful to all those who effectively contributed to the achievement of this laboratory investigation.

Funding

The study was financially supported by the Directorate General for Scientific Research and Technological Development, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Algeria).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Material Sciences & Environment, University of Chlef, Chlef, Algeria

    Khayreddine Doumi, Youcef Mahmoudi, Abdellah Cherif Taiba & Mostefa Belkhatir

  2. Laboratory of Foundation Engineering, Bochum Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany

    Wiebke Baille & Mostefa Belkhatir

Authors
  1. Khayreddine Doumi
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  2. Youcef Mahmoudi
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  3. Abdellah Cherif Taiba
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  4. Wiebke Baille
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  5. Mostefa Belkhatir
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Contributions

All authors have contributed to the conception, writing, and design of the submission manuscript. Material collection, sample preparation, and analysis were performed by Mr. Khayreddine Doumi, Dr. Youcef Mahmoudi, Dr. Abdellah Cherif Taiba, Dr. Wiebke Baille, and Pr. Mostefa Belkhatir. The first draft of the manuscript was written by all authors. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Youcef Mahmoudi.

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Doumi, K., Mahmoudi, Y., Cherif Taiba, A. et al. Influence of the Particle Size on the Flow Potential and Friction Index of Partially Saturated Sandy Soils. Transp. Infrastruct. Geotech. 9, 606–630 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40515-021-00193-4

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