Critical dynamic stress for the frozen subgrade soil

Abstract

Triaxial dynamic tests at the temperature −6 °C were performed on frozen subgrade soil to study accumulative deformation and resilient deformation properties. Based on the shakedown theory, a reliable evaluation for the long-term serviceability of the frozen subgrade was further presented. The influences of confining pressure, dynamic stress amplitude, initial stress path and initial stress ratio on dynamic properties of frozen subgrade soil were analysed. The evolution features of accumulative permanent strain under cyclic loading were experimentally determinated. The boundary functions for plastic shakedown area and plastic creep area were further established. Critical dynamic stresses for the different deformation areas can be calculated by the experimental data and the proposal formula. The influences of consolidation pressure and initial stress ratio on critical dynamic stress were discussed in detail. The distribution characteristics (envelope line loci) of the critical dynamic stress were investigated in the mean stress-the shear stress space.