Dilatancy of Silty Sand at Varied Densities

Abstract

This work considers results of 180 drained tri-axial compression tests out of which 90 were successfully completed sharing up to large strain (20-25%). The results are analyzed with the aim to capture deviator stress v/s volumetric strain under different test conditions of relative densities and mean confining pressure. The sample was prepared in laboratory at varied relative densities. It is considers the effect of plastics fines on shear strength of sands. The properties of clean sands pertaining to shear strength have been studied extensively. The behavior of natural sands is normally influenced by the amounts of silt and / or clay. The critical state has been selected from tri-axial test data and care has been taken to ensure that true steady states arrived. Test procedures and the intrinsic properties of the material being tested are well controlled. The empirical shear strength fitting parameters (Q & R) for silty sands was compared with the existing literature for non-plastic silty sands. The values of shear strength fitting parameters (Q & R) found out for a selected sample was found to be slightly less than the conventional values. The main aim of this work is to identify the behavior of silty sand of different fineness at varied relative densities.