Effect of particle size distribution on the correlation between liquefaction resistance and shear wave velocity of granular soils

¹ Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering University College London, London, UK
² Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

^* Changtao Zhou: changtao.zhou.14@alumni.ucl.ac.uk
^† Xiaomin Xu: xx787@cam.ac.uk
^‡ Yi Pik Cheng: yi.cheng@ucl.ac.uk

Published online: 30 June 2017

Abstract

Shear wave method has been increasingly popular in assessing the liquefaction potential of granular soils. Two particle-scale parameters, the inter-particle friction and the shear modulus of grains, play vital roles in correlation between Cyclic Resistance Ratio (CRR) and shear wave velocity corrected by overburden stress (V_s1). Series of drained one-dimensional compression tests were simulated on samples of different inter-particle friction angles assigned during preparation stage. Uniformity coefficients of these Particle Size Distribution (PSD) curves are 2 and 4 whose average particle size d₅₀ are identical. The shearing results, as well as their assigned inter-particle friction angles form calibration curves for real sands. Dissimilar PSD curves result in different calibration outcomes. For Silica sand no.8, these curves give divergent inter-particle friction angles. This study calibrates particle shear modulus for Silica sand no.8 as well. Different PSD curves give divergent values of particle shear modulus. PSDs show impacts on calibrations of both vital parameters, which have converse effects on CRR-V_s1 curves. This study suggests that the CRR-V_s1 correlation should be independent of PSDs.