Experimental Study on Dynamic Parameters of Calcareous Sand Subgrade under Long-Term Cyclic Loading

A long-term cyclic loading test of calcareous sand from an island reef in the South China Sea was conducted under conditions of unequal consolidation and drainage. The axial cumulative strain and dynamic characteristics of coral sand samples with different physical and mechanical properties were studied under different stress levels, yielding a model prediction formula. The results show that (1) the axial cumulative strain and dynamic elastic modulus increase with increasing vibration times of the cyclic load, whereas the dynamic damping ratio decreases with increasing cyclic vibration time; (2) the axial cumulative strain, elastic modulus, and damping ratio are affected by dynamic stress amplitude, load frequency, confining pressure, consolidation stress, compactness and moisture content; and (3) based on dynamic triaxial test results, the axial cumulative strain model of calcareous sand under cyclic loading and its permanent deformation prediction formula are established by introducing the cyclic stress ratio. Two parameters, the elastic modulus evolution parameter and the damping ratio evolution parameter, are introduced, and the axial cumulative strain is normalized. The results of this research have significance for understanding the long-term deformation and dynamic response of coral sand subgrade soil under cyclic vibration loads.

Automated summary

This study conducted a long-term cyclic loading test on calcareous sand from an island reef in the South China Sea under conditions of unequal consolidation and drainage. The axial cumulative strain and dynamic characteristics of the sand samples were studied, and a model prediction formula was established. The results showed that the axial cumulative strain and dynamic elastic modulus increased with increasing vibration times of cyclic load, while the dynamic damping ratio decreased. Several factors such as dynamic stress amplitude, load frequency, confining pressure, consolidation stress, compactness, and moisture content influenced the axial cumulative strain, elastic modulus, and damping ratio. The research findings are significant for understanding the long-term deformation and dynamic response of coral sand subgrade soil under cyclic vibration loads.