Static liquefaction of granular soils: the role of grain shape and size

Abstract

This paper presents some interesting results from a specifically-designed experimental study that aimed to explore the role of particle shape and size in static liquefaction of sandy soils. The experimental program included a series of laboratory tests on a range of sand-fines mixtures in terms of grain shape and size. The stress-strain behavior of the mixed soils, including such characteristic states as instability state and critical state, is studied in detail. The effect of fines is shown to vary with the shape and size of both coarse and fine particles. The critical state friction angle of a sand-fines mixture is dominated by the roundness of sand grains, but the roundness of the fines also plays a role. Evidence is also given for the impact of grain shape and size on the onset of instability of granular soils.