LOW STRAIN SHEAR MODULI OF CEMENTED SANDS

The dynamic properties of tightly cemented sands at low strain levels have been the subject of several published articles. The main techniqu e used for the determination of these properties has been the torsiona l resonant column test. Some questions have been raised regarding the specimen end plattens coupling in the resonant column test. The presen t study makes use of piezo ceramic bender elements and compares previo us findings with those obtained from utilizing an independent techniqu e that does not pose the same type of concerns as those raised from us ing the resonant column device. The results of the present study show that there is a negligible effect of confining pressure on the measure d maximum modulus (G(max)) of artificially cemented sand specimens. Th is confirms the existence of problems with coupling of specimen end pl attens in previous work. The main variables that determine the moduli of the cemented sand are the percentage of cementation, and to a lesse r degree the relative density of the sand skeleton.