Radial Strain Behaviors and Stress State Interpretation of Soil Under Direct Simple Shear

Abstract Radial strain behaviors and stress state interpretation methods of silica sand consolidated at different K0 values under modified direct simple shear were investigated in this research. Consolidated drained triaxial compression test, direct shear box test, and wire reinforced direct simple shear tests were conducted and the test results were compared and linked with the modified direct simple shear tests. Based on the observed testing data, simple shear specimens with constant lateral stress exhibited relative small radial strain during shear, especially under small shear strains. After the peak shear resistance has mobilized, radial strain increased rigorously until the specimen failed. Confining pressure and K0 values were found to have great deal of influence on the simple shear radial change. Two different methods were adopted to interpret the stress conditions within the simple shear specimen and the “pure shear” method was found more appropriate in interpreting the stress state in the modified direct simple shear test.