Investigation of 1D sand compression response using enhanced compressibility model

Abstract

1D sand compression response to ko-loading experiences volume contraction from low to high effective stress regimes. Previous study suggested compressibility model with physically correct asymptotic void ratios at low and high stress levels and examined only for both remolded clays and natural clays. This study extends the validity of Enhanced Terzaghi model for different sand types complied from 1D compression data. The model involved with four parameters can adequately fit 1D sand compression data for a wide stress range. The low stress obtained from fitting parameters helps to identify the initial fabric conditions. In addition, strong correlation between compressibility and the void ratio at low stress facilitates determination of self-consistent fitting parameters. The computed tangent constrained modulus can capture monotonic stiffening effect induced by an increase in effective stress. The magnitude of tangent stiffness during large strain test should not be associated with small strain stiffness values. The use of a single continuous function to capture 1D stress-strain sand response to ko-loading can improve numerical efficiency and systematically quantify the yield stress instead of ad hoc methods.