• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2021

The paper presents an experimental study on the strength behaviour of a coral gravelly sand from Vietnam subjected to monotonic and cyclic loading. A series of direct shear tests were carried out to investigate the shear strength behaviour and the factors affecting the shear strength of the sand such as relative density, cyclic load, amplitude of the cyclic load and loading rate. The study results indicate that the shear strength parameters of the coral gravelly sand include not only internal friction angle but also apparent cohesion. These parameters vary with the relative density, cyclic load, the amplitude of the cyclic load and loading rate. The shear strength increases with the increase of the relative density. The shear strength increases after subjecting to cyclic loading. The amplitude of the cyclic load affects the shear strength of coral gravelly sand, the shear strength increases as the amplitude of the cyclic load increases. The loading rate has insignificantly effect on the shear strength of the coral gravelly sand.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2016

This paper presents the results of an intensive experimental investigation on cyclic behavior of various sands and structural materials interface. Comprehensive measurements of the horizontal displacement and shear stresses developed during testing were performed using an automated constant normal load (CNL) cyclic direct shear test apparatus. Two different particle sizes (0.5 mm-0.25 mm and, 2.0 mm-1.0 mm) of sands having distinct shapes (rounded and angular) were tested in a cyclic direct shear testing apparatus at two vertical stress levels (${\sigma}=50kPa$, and 100 kPa) and two rates of displacement ($R_D=2.0mm/min$, and 0.025 mm/min) against various structural materials (i.e., steel, concrete, and wood). The cyclic direct shear tests performed during this investigation indicate that (i) the shear stresses developed during shearing highly depend on both the shape and size of sand grains; (ii) characteristics of the structural materials are closely related to interface response; and (iii) the rate of displacement is slightly effective on the results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.74 no.3
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• pp.407-423
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• 2020

The pre-peak cyclic shear mechanism of two-order asperity degradation of rock joints in the direct shear tests with static constant normal loads (CNL) are investigated using experimental and numerical methods. The laboratory testing rock specimens contains the idealized and regular two-order triangular-shaped asperities, which represent the specific geometrical conditions of natural and irregular waviness and unevenness of rock joint surfaces, in the pre-peak cyclic shear tests. Three different shear failure patterns of two-order triangular-shaped rock joints can be found in the experiments at constant horizontal shear velocity and various static constant normal loads in the direct and pre-peak cyclic shear tests. The discrete element method is adopted to simulate the pre-peak shear failure behaviors of rock joints with two-order triangular-shaped asperities. The rock joint interfaces are simulated using a modified smooth joint model, where microscopic scale slip surfaces are applied at contacts between discrete particles in the upper and lower rock blocks. Comparing the discrete numerical results with the experimental results, the microscopic bond particle model parameters are calibrated. Effects of cyclic shear loading amplitude, static constant normal loads and initial waviness asperity angles on the pre-peak cyclic shear failure behaviors of triangular-shaped rock joints are also numerically investigated.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 2019

Concrete-to-concrete bedding planes (CCBP) are observed from time to time due to the multistep hardening process of the concrete materials. In this paper, a series of direct/cyclic shear tests are performed on CCBP under static and dynamic normal load conditions to study the frictional behavior effect by the shear velocities, normal impact frequencies, horizontal shear frequencies, normal impact force amplitudes, horizontal shear displacement amplitudes and normal load levels. According to the experimental results, apparent friction coefficient k ($k=F_{Shear}/F_{Normal}$) shows different patterns under static and dynamic load conditions at the stable shear stage. k is nearly constant in direct shear tests under constant normal load conditions (DCNL), while it is cyclically changing with nearly constant peak value and valley value for the direct shear tests under dynamic normal load conditions (DDNL), where k increases with decreasing normal force and decreases with increasing normal force. Shear velocity has little influence on peak values of k for the DCNL tests, but increasing shear velocity leads to increasing valley values of k for DDNL tests. It is also found that, the valley values of k ascend with decreasing impact normal force amplitude in DDNL tests. The changing pattern of k for the cyclic shear tests under constant and dynamic normal load conditions (CCNL and CDNL tests) are similar, but the peak value of k is smaller in CDNL tests than that in CCNL tests. Normal load levels, shear displacement amplitudes, vertical impact frequencies, horizontal shear frequencies and normal impact force amplitudes have little influence on the changing pattern of k for the cyclic shear tests. The tests of this study provide useful data in understanding the frictional behavior of the CCBP under distinct loadings, and these findings are very important for analyzing the stability of the jointed geotechnical structures under complicated in situ stress conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2014

Offshore wind turbine foundations are subjected to wind, current and wave loadings. Hence, both static and cyclic behaviors of foundation's soil are important for the design of offshore wind turbine foundation. Undrained cyclic behaviors of soils depend upon the number of loading cycles, vertical effective stress, cyclic shear strain, relative density, and the combination of cyclic and average shear stresses. In order to evaluate the effect of average and cyclic shear stresses on the undrained cyclic behavior of marine silty sand, cyclic direct simple shear (CDSS) tests are performed with relative density of 85%, vertical effective stress of 200 and 300 kPa, and failure criteria of either 15% double amplitude cyclic shear strain (${\gamma}_{cyc}$) or permanent shear strain (${\gamma}_{p}$). The results are presented in the form of design graphs or contour diagrams. The undrained cyclic behavior of marine silty sand is found to be dependent on cyclic and average shear stresses and/or the combination of both shear stresses. It is found that when significant average shear stress exists the permanent or progressive shear strain is the govering failure criteria instead of cyclic shear strain.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.305-316
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• 2024

Pile foundations are frequently subjected to dynamic loads, necessitating a thorough investigation of cyclic shear characteristics at pile-soil interfaces. To investigate the influence of soil moisture content and concrete surface roughness on the cyclic shear characteristics of interfaces, a series of cyclic shear tests were conducted using a large-scale indoor direct shear apparatus. The effects of three normal stresses (100, 200, and 300 kPa), four moisture content levels (14%, 19%, 24%, and 29%), and five concrete surface joint roughness coefficients (0.4, 5.8, 9.5, 12.8, and 16.7) on interface shear stress and volumetric strain behavior of residual soil were analyzed. Numerical simulations were employed to analyze the microstructural changes in particles. The results show that the water content has a significant effect on the interface stress-displacement curve. It shows a cyclic hardening type at low water content and a cyclic softening type at high water content. There is a critical roughness on the concrete surface. After exceeding this value, the shear strength of the interface is no longer improved. The number of force chains in the soil increases with the increase of the number of cycles and roughness. The increase of the number of particles in the force chain leads to the increase of the instability of the force chain structure. Therefore, most of the force chains are composed of three particles. The main direction of the normal and tangential contact force anisotropy is closely related to the shear direction. The main direction will deflect with the shear direction, and the deflection angle is about 35°.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.529-536
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• 2005

Based on an estimating method for post-cyclic strength and stiffness with cyclic triaxial tests, Direct Simple Shear (DSS) tests were carried out to confirm whether the method can be adapted to DSS test on fine-grained soils: silty clay, plastic silt, and non-plastic silt. Results from post-cyclic DSS tests were interpreted by a modified method as adopted for post-cyclic triaxial tests. In particular, influence of plasticity index for fine-grained soils was emphasised. Findings obtained from the present study are: (i) the higher the plasticity index of fine-grained soils is, the less not stiffness ratio but strength ratio decreases with increment of a normalised excess pore water pressure; and (ii) post-cyclic strength and stiffness results from DSS tests agree well with those predicted by the method modified from a procedure used for triaxial test results.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.65-75
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• 2024

This study investigates liquefaction-induced settlement through strain-controlled tests using a cyclic direct simple shear device on clean sand specimens. By focusing on the accumulated shear strain, soil density, sample preparation method, and cyclic waveshape, this study attempts to enhance the understanding of soil behavior under seismic loading and its further deformation. Results from tests conducted on remolded samples reveal insights into excess pore water pressure development and post-liquefaction volumetric strain behavior, with denser samples exhibiting lower volumetric strains than looser samples. Similarly, the correlation between the frequency and amplitude variations of the wave and volumetric strain highlights the importance of wave characteristics in soil response, with shear strain amplitude changes, varying the volumetric strain response after reconsolidation. In addition, samples prepared under moist conditions exhibit less volumetric strain than dry-reconstituted samples. Overall, the findings of this study are expected to contribute to predictive models to evaluate liquefaction-induced settlement.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.15-23
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• 2015

An experimental study has been conducted to evaluate the effects of average and cyclic shear stresses on the undrained failure behaviors of dense marine silty sand by using the Cyclic Direct Simple Shear apparatus. The results show that when the average shear stress ratio is zero, symmetric cyclic shear deformation is the major component of deformation, and permanent shear deformation is relatively small. On the other hand, when the average shear stress ratio is larger than zero, asymmetric permanent shear deformation is the major component, and cyclic shear deformation does not change much as the number of cyclic loads increases. The average shear stress ratio has less effects on the number of cyclic loads needed to fail, as compared with the cyclic shear stress ratio. The proposed stress-dependent failure contour can effectively be used to assess the cyclic shear strength of soil beneath the foundation for the design of offshore structures.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.15-26
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• 2004

Based on an estimating method for post-cyclic strength and stiffness with cyclic triaxial tests proposed by one of the authors, cyclic Direct Simple Shear (DSS) tests were carried out to confirm whether the method can be adapted to DSS test on fine-grained soils: silty clay, plastic silt, and non-plastic silt. Results from cyclic and post-cyclic DSS tests were interpreted by a modified method as adopted for cyclic and post-cyclic triaxial tests. In particular, influence of plasticity index for fine-grained soils and initial static shear stress (ISSS) was emphasised. Findings obtained from the present study are: (i) liquefaction strength ratio of fine-grained soils decreases with decreasing plasticity index and increasing ISSS; (ii) plasticity index and ISSS did not markedly influence relation between equivalent cyclic stiffness and shear strain relations; (iii) the higher the plasticity index of fine-grained soils is, the less the strength ratio decreases with increment of a normalcies excess pore water pressure (NEPWP); (iv) stiffness ratio of plastic silt has large activity decrease rapidly with increasing excess pore water pressure; and (v) post-cyclic strength and stiffness results from DSS tests agree well with those predicted by the method modified from a procedure used for triaxial test results.