On monotonic and cyclic behavior of silty sand

On monotonic and cyclic behavior of silty sand. This Note presents a laboratory study of the influence of low plastic fines on the behavior of a silty sand. The study is based on drained and undrained triaxial compression tests which were carried out for fractions of fines varying between 0 and 50%. Tests were conducted on samples a medium dense sand having a relative density I(d) = 0.5. The Note is composed of two parts. The first one presents the characteristics of the soils used in this study, the second provides an analysis of the experimental results and discusses the influence of fines on the mechanical characteristics of the sand-silt mixture. The tests show that the increase in the fines fraction reduces the soil dilatancy and amplifies the phase of contractance. It has a weak influence on the characteristic angle, but reduces the frictional angle of the soil. The third part presents the influence of relative density and fines content on the cyclic behavior and discusses their influence on the liquefaction potential of the sand-silt mixture. The tests show that the potential of liquefaction increase with increasing relative density and the resistance of liquefaction decrease with the increase of fines content. To cite this article: A. Arab, C R. Mecanique 337 (2009). (C) 2009 Academie des sciences. Publie par Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits reserves.