Kharazmi Journal of Earth Sciences

Kharazmi Journal of Earth Sciences

Influence of the principal stress rotation on the undrained shear strength of silty sand

Authors
Vahid Mohammadi 1
Hadi Bahadori 2
1 Aeen Kamal Higher Education Institute, Urmia, Iran
2 Department of Civil Engineering, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
10.22034/KJES.2024.10.1.107331
Abstract
The construction of geotechnical structures in sandy soils requires load bearing evaluation in undrained conditions. Undrained shear strength depends on many factors, including principal stress rotation (anisotropic behavior). However, the effect of this inclination angle (α°) is often ignored due to the difficulty in reflecting this phenomenon in laboratory research, the hollow cylinder torsional shear apparatus provides the possibility of examining the anisotropy of soils. On the other hand, most of the sand sediments contain different amounts of silt particles, which have a significant effect on the behavior of the sand, and investigating the anisotropic behavior of these mixed soils (especially in low content) has not been fully studied. This research includes 18 undrained tests using a hollow cylindrical apparatus on Firoozkuh sand with low silt content. The samples have 0, 5 and 10% silt content. Inclination angle (α°) is considered as a key parameter that shows the characteristics of anisotropy, and the values of 15, 30 and 60° are applied in the experiments. Based on the obtained results, increasing the inclination angle leads to more contractive behavior in sand. By adding a small percentage of layer, the overall structure of the sand skeleton remains constant and the samples can still be evaluated based on the general behavior of the host sand. In the samples containing 5%, reduction of contractive behavior and increase of resistance (18.5%, 12% and 7.7% for angles of 15, 30 and 60°, respectively) are observed, but with an increase of 10%, the strength is decreased (less than the host sand) and the contractive behavior is increased. In anisotropic behavior, with the increase of the inclination angle, the effect of fine grains in increasing the strength and reducing the contractive behavior of the samples as an important parameter in mixed soils is decreased.
Keywords
Anisotropic Behavior
Hollow Cylinder Torsional Shear Apparatus
Firoozkuh Sand
Contractive Behavior
Subjects
Alarcon-Guzman, A., Leonards, G., Chameau, J., 1988. Undrained monotonic and cyclic strength of sands. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 114, 1089-1109.
Amini, F., Qi, G., 2000. Liquefaction testing of stratified silty sands. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 126, 208-217.
Arthur, J., Menzies, B., 1972. Inherent anisotropy in a sand. Geotechnique 22, 115-128.
ASTM, 2006a. ASTM. D4253: Standard test methods for maximum index density and unit weight of soils using a vibratory table. West Conshohocken, PA, USA: ASTM International.
ASTM, 2006b. ASTM. D4254: Standard test methods for minimum index density and unit weight of soils and calculation ofrelative density. West Conshohocken, PA, USA: ASTM International.
Bahadori, H., Ghalandarzadeh, A., Towhata, I., 2008. Effect of non plastic silt on the anisotropic behavior of sand. Soils and Foundations 48, 531-545.
Bahadori, H., Mohammadi, V., 2024. Experimental study on the anisotropic behavior of sand with low clay (Kaolin) content using a Torsional Shear Hollow Cylindrical Apparatus. Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering,
Baziar, M.H., Habib, Sh., Hassan, Sh., 2011. A laboratory study on the pore pressure generation model for Firouzkooh silty sands using hollow torsional test. International Journal of Civil Engineering 126-134.
Bishop, A.W., 1971. Shear strength parameters for undisturbed and remolded soil specimens, Roscoe Memorial Symp 3-58.
Farshbaf Aghajani, H., Salehzadeh, H., 2015. Anisotropic behavior of the Bushehr carbonate sand in the Persian Gulf. Arabian Journal of Geosciences 8, 8197-8217.
Gratchev, I.B., Sassa, K., Osipov, V.I., Sokolov, V.N., 2006. The liquefaction of clayey soils under cyclic loading. Engineering Geology 86, 70-84.
Gutierrez, M., Ishihara, K., Towhata, I., 1991. Flow theory for sand during rotation of principal stress direction. Soils and Foundations 31, 121-132.


Jafarzadeh, F., Givi, F. A., Ahmadinezhad, A., 2019. Evaluation of the effects of principal stress direction on shear modulus of unsaturated sand using hollow cylinder apparatus. In Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering for Protection and Development of Environment and Constructions. CRC Pres 3102-3108.
Jradi, L., El Dine, B.S., Dupla, J.-C., Canou, J., 2022. Influence of low fines content on the liquefaction resistance of sands. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering 26, 6012-6031.
Keramatikerman, M., Chegenizadeh, A., Nikraz, H., Sabbar, A.S., 2018. Effect of flyash on liquefaction behaviour of sand-bentonite mixture. Soils and Foundations 58, 1288-1296.
Khayat, N., Ghalandarzadeh, A., Jafari, M.K., 2014. Grain shape effect on the anisotropic behaviour of silt–sand mixtures. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Geotechnical Engineering 167, 281-296.
Lade, P.V., Nam, J., Hong, W.P., 2008. Shear banding and cross-anisotropic behavior observed in laboratory sand tests with stress rotation. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 45, 74-84.
Li, X., Yu, H.-S., 2009. Influence of loading direction on the behavior of anisotropic granular materials. International Journal of Engineering Science 47, 1284-1296.
Miura, S., Toki, S., 1982. A sample preparation method and its effect on static and cyclic deformation-strength properties of sand. Soils and Foundations 22, 61-77.
Mohamadzadeh, H., Razeghi, H., Saffarian, M., 2020. Effect of initial principal stress rotation on the anisotropic behavior of sand in the drained condition. Sharif Journal of Civil Engineering 36.2(3.2), 87-96.
Nakata, Y., Hyodo, M., Murata, H., Yasufuku, N., 1998. Flow deformation of sands subjected to principal stress rotation. Soils and Foundations 38, 115-128.
Radjai, F., Azéma, E., 2009. Shear strength of granular materials. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering 13, 203-218.
Razeghi, H. R., Mohamadzadeh, H., 2014. Effect of fabric and initial stresses on the anisotropic behavior of sand. Scientia Iranica 21, 1750-1761.
Razeghi, H.R., Romiani, H.M., 2015. Experimental investigation on the inherent and initial induced anisotropy of sand. KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering 19, 583-591.
Rodriguez, N.M., Lade, P.V., 2013. Effects of principal stress directions and mean normal stress on failure criterion for cross-anisotropic sand. Journal of Engineering Mechanics 139, 1592-1601.
Sadrekarimi, A., 2016. Static liquefaction analysis considering principal stress directions and anisotropy. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 34, 1135-1154.
Seed, H.B., Idriss, I.M., Arango, I., 1983. Evaluation of liquefaction potential using field performance data. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 109, 458-482.
Seyedi Hosseininia, E., 2012. Investigating the micromechanical evolutions within inherently anisotropic granular materials using discrete element method. Granular Matter 14(4), 483-503.
Sivathayalan, S., Vaid, Y., 2002. Influence of generalized initial state and principal stress rotation on the undrained response of sands. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 39, 63-76.
Symes, M.J.P.R., 1983. Rotation of principal stresses in sand.
Verdugo, R., Ishihara, K., 1996. The steady state of sandy soils. Soils and Foundations 36, 81-91.
Xiong, H., Guo, L., Cai, Y., Yang, Z., 2016. Experimental study of drained anisotropy of granular soils involving rotation of principal stress direction. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering 20, 431-454.
Yamamuro, J.A., Lade, P.V., 1998. Steady-state concepts and static liquefaction of silty sands. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 124, 868-877.
Yang, L.-T., Li, X., Yu, H.-S., Wanatowski, D., 2016. A laboratory study of anisotropic geomaterials incorporating recent micromechanical understanding. Acta Geotechnica 11, 1111-1129.
Yoshimine, M., Ishihara, K., 1998. Flow potential of sand during liquefaction. Soils and Foundations 38, 189-198.
Yoshimine, M., Ishihara, K., Vargas, W., 1998. Effects of principal stress direction and intermediate principal stress on undrained shear behavior of sand. Soils and Foundations 38(3), 179-188.
Zamanian, M., 2022. Evaluation of the effect of anisotropy on the shear modulus with dissipated energy approach. Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering 9, 101-114.
Zarei, C., Soltani-Jigheh, H., Badv, K., 2019. Effect of inherent anisotropy on the behavior of fine-grained cohesive soils. International Journal of Civil Engineering 17, 687-697.
Zlatovic, S., Ishihara, K., 1997. Normalized behavior of very loose non-plastic soils: effects of fabric. Soils and Foundations 37, 47-56.

Alarcon-Guzman, A., Leonards, G., Chameau, J., 1988. Undrained monotonic and cyclic strength of sands. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 114, 1089-1109.
Amini, F., Qi, G., 2000. Liquefaction testing of stratified silty sands. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 126, 208-217.
Arthur, J., Menzies, B., 1972. Inherent anisotropy in a sand. Geotechnique 22, 115-128.
ASTM, 2006a. ASTM. D4253: Standard test methods for maximum index density and unit weight of soils using a vibratory table. West Conshohocken, PA, USA: ASTM International.
ASTM, 2006b. ASTM. D4254: Standard test methods for minimum index density and unit weight of soils and calculation ofrelative density. West Conshohocken, PA, USA: ASTM International.
Bahadori, H., Ghalandarzadeh, A., Towhata, I., 2008. Effect of non plastic silt on the anisotropic behavior of sand. Soils and Foundations 48, 531-545.
Bahadori, H., Mohammadi, V., 2024. Experimental study on the anisotropic behavior of sand with low clay (Kaolin) content using a Torsional Shear Hollow Cylindrical Apparatus. Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering,
Baziar, M.H., Habib, Sh., Hassan, Sh., 2011. A laboratory study on the pore pressure generation model for Firouzkooh silty sands using hollow torsional test. International Journal of Civil Engineering 126-134.
Bishop, A.W., 1971. Shear strength parameters for undisturbed and remolded soil specimens, Roscoe Memorial Symp 3-58.
Farshbaf Aghajani, H., Salehzadeh, H., 2015. Anisotropic behavior of the Bushehr carbonate sand in the Persian Gulf. Arabian Journal of Geosciences 8, 8197-8217.
Gratchev, I.B., Sassa, K., Osipov, V.I., Sokolov, V.N., 2006. The liquefaction of clayey soils under cyclic loading. Engineering Geology 86, 70-84.
Gutierrez, M., Ishihara, K., Towhata, I., 1991. Flow theory for sand during rotation of principal stress direction. Soils and Foundations 31, 121-132.


Jafarzadeh, F., Givi, F. A., Ahmadinezhad, A., 2019. Evaluation of the effects of principal stress direction on shear modulus of unsaturated sand using hollow cylinder apparatus. In Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering for Protection and Development of Environment and Constructions. CRC Pres 3102-3108.
Jradi, L., El Dine, B.S., Dupla, J.-C., Canou, J., 2022. Influence of low fines content on the liquefaction resistance of sands. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering 26, 6012-6031.
Keramatikerman, M., Chegenizadeh, A., Nikraz, H., Sabbar, A.S., 2018. Effect of flyash on liquefaction behaviour of sand-bentonite mixture. Soils and Foundations 58, 1288-1296.
Khayat, N., Ghalandarzadeh, A., Jafari, M.K., 2014. Grain shape effect on the anisotropic behaviour of silt–sand mixtures. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Geotechnical Engineering 167, 281-296.
Lade, P.V., Nam, J., Hong, W.P., 2008. Shear banding and cross-anisotropic behavior observed in laboratory sand tests with stress rotation. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 45, 74-84.
Li, X., Yu, H.-S., 2009. Influence of loading direction on the behavior of anisotropic granular materials. International Journal of Engineering Science 47, 1284-1296.
Miura, S., Toki, S., 1982. A sample preparation method and its effect on static and cyclic deformation-strength properties of sand. Soils and Foundations 22, 61-77.
Mohamadzadeh, H., Razeghi, H., Saffarian, M., 2020. Effect of initial principal stress rotation on the anisotropic behavior of sand in the drained condition. Sharif Journal of Civil Engineering 36.2(3.2), 87-96.
Nakata, Y., Hyodo, M., Murata, H., Yasufuku, N., 1998. Flow deformation of sands subjected to principal stress rotation. Soils and Foundations 38, 115-128.
Radjai, F., Azéma, E., 2009. Shear strength of granular materials. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering 13, 203-218.
Razeghi, H. R., Mohamadzadeh, H., 2014. Effect of fabric and initial stresses on the anisotropic behavior of sand. Scientia Iranica 21, 1750-1761.
Razeghi, H.R., Romiani, H.M., 2015. Experimental investigation on the inherent and initial induced anisotropy of sand. KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering 19, 583-591.
Rodriguez, N.M., Lade, P.V., 2013. Effects of principal stress directions and mean normal stress on failure criterion for cross-anisotropic sand. Journal of Engineering Mechanics 139, 1592-1601.
Sadrekarimi, A., 2016. Static liquefaction analysis considering principal stress directions and anisotropy. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 34, 1135-1154.
Seed, H.B., Idriss, I.M., Arango, I., 1983. Evaluation of liquefaction potential using field performance data. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 109, 458-482.
Seyedi Hosseininia, E., 2012. Investigating the micromechanical evolutions within inherently anisotropic granular materials using discrete element method. Granular Matter 14(4), 483-503.
Sivathayalan, S., Vaid, Y., 2002. Influence of generalized initial state and principal stress rotation on the undrained response of sands. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 39, 63-76.
Symes, M.J.P.R., 1983. Rotation of principal stresses in sand.
Verdugo, R., Ishihara, K., 1996. The steady state of sandy soils. Soils and Foundations 36, 81-91.
Xiong, H., Guo, L., Cai, Y., Yang, Z., 2016. Experimental study of drained anisotropy of granular soils involving rotation of principal stress direction. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering 20, 431-454.
Yamamuro, J.A., Lade, P.V., 1998. Steady-state concepts and static liquefaction of silty sands. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 124, 868-877.
Yang, L.-T., Li, X., Yu, H.-S., Wanatowski, D., 2016. A laboratory study of anisotropic geomaterials incorporating recent micromechanical understanding. Acta Geotechnica 11, 1111-1129.
Yoshimine, M., Ishihara, K., 1998. Flow potential of sand during liquefaction. Soils and Foundations 38, 189-198.
Yoshimine, M., Ishihara, K., Vargas, W., 1998. Effects of principal stress direction and intermediate principal stress on undrained shear behavior of sand. Soils and Foundations 38(3), 179-188.
Zamanian, M., 2022. Evaluation of the effect of anisotropy on the shear modulus with dissipated energy approach. Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering 9, 101-114.
Zarei, C., Soltani-Jigheh, H., Badv, K., 2019. Effect of inherent anisotropy on the behavior of fine-grained cohesive soils. International Journal of Civil Engineering 17, 687-697.
Zlatovic, S., Ishihara, K., 1997. Normalized behavior of very loose non-plastic soils: effects of fabric. Soils and Foundations 37, 47-56.