Influence of Non/Low-Plastic Fines and Associated Aging Effects on Liquefaction Resistance

• Published in: Journal of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering Vol. 138; no. 6; pp. 747 - 756
• Main Authors: Kokusho, Takaji, Ito, Fumiki, Nagao, Yohta, Green, A. Russell
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reston, VA American Society of Civil Engineers 01.06.2012
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Cements; Exact sciences and technology; Geology; Geotechnics; Liquefaction; Measurements. Technique of testing; Penetration; Penetration resistance; Simulation; Soil (material); Soil investigations. Testing; Technical Papers; Cone penetration tests; Liquefaction resistance; Triaxial cell machine; Aging test; Liquefaction; Cementing; Aging (material); Cyclic test; Property of soil; Penetration test; Triaxial test; Soil liquefaction; Cementation; Resistance; Cement content; Cone resistance; Triaxial tests; Fines; Experimental result; Soil test; Cement; Testing equipment; Aging effect; Fines content
• ISSN: 1090-0241; 1943-5606
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000632

AbstractThe objective of the study presented herein is the development of an understanding of the influence of non/low-plastic fines and associated aging effects on the penetration resistance (qt) and liquefaction resistance (RL) of sandy soils. Towards this end, the authors performed a series of cyclic triaxial tests on samples having varying relative densities (Dr) and fines contents (Fc), wherein a miniature cone was incorporated into the triaxial apparatus. This allowed the penetration resistance and the liquefaction resistance to be determined directly for the samples. To simulate geologic aging effects, a small amount of cement was mixed in with the soil during sample preparation. From “unaged samples” without cement, it was found that although both RL and qt decrease as Fc increases, a unique relationship exists between RL and qt that is independent of Fc. However, from samples having the same Cc/Fc (i.e., simulating the same geologic age), it was found that RL increases as Fc increases for the same qt. This trend is consistent with field-based RL-qt correlations for natural soil deposits to which aging effects are intrinsic. Thus, it has been clarified that it is not the Fc-value by itself but rather the cementation effect associated with higher Fc that results in a higher liquefaction resistance for a given qt.