Large strain dynamic characteristics of quaternary alluvium sand with emphasis on empirical pore water pressure generation model

Abstract

The present study focuses on the cyclic behaviour of cohesionless soil collected from the quaternary alluvium deposit at the Middle Ganga Plain (MGP). A series of strain-controlled cyclic triaxial tests have been carried out on collected soil samples at various effective confining stresses, shear strain amplitudes and motion frequencies to estimate the dynamic parameter at large strain. From the results, it has been shown that dynamic properties and liquefaction strength substantially affected by the shear strain amplitude of input motion. However, effective confining stress and motion frequency have no significant effect on dynamic properties and liquefaction strength at large strain. Regression equations have been developed for dynamic and liquefaction strength parameters for the studied soil. It has been found that the consideration of asymmetricity in the shape of hysteresis loops significantly influences the damping ratio estimation at a particular shear strain. Another novel aspect that has been presented in this study is the effect of effective confining stress on the EPWP model parameter F using a mathematical equation. The regression equation for model parameter F proposed in this study has been validated by predicting the maximum EPWP development of studied soil and other quarternary alluvium soils available worldwide.

Keywords:

• Cyclic triaxial
• large-strain
• liquefaction
• dynamic properties
• strain-controlled tests

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) would like to greatly acknowledge to IIT Patna and Department of Higher Education (Govt. of India) for providing the funding for present work to carry out the doctoral research for which no specific grant number has been allotted.