Stiffness nonlinearity of three sands

This paper presents the results of 254 drained triaxial compression tests. The results are analyzed with the aim of obtaining a phenomenological descr iption of secant Young's modulus variation according to different test cond itions. Using empirical fitting equations, the influences of different fact ors such as axial strain, vertical consolidation stress, consolidation stre ss ratio, and stress history on the secant Young's modulus under axisymmetr ic (triaxial) loading conditions at small and intermediate axial strains ar e singled out and presented. The main purpose of this paper is to identify the factors affecting the nonlinear secant stiffness of sand and to quantif y their relevance at different levels of strain.