Compression Behaviour of Chlef Sand and Transition of Fines Content Using Pressure-Dependent Maximum Void Ratios of Sand
Abstract
This paper presents a study on Chlef sand to examine the effect of fines content {F(c)}, relative density (RD) and initial conditions on the compressibility behavior. The interpretation of the results is based on the concept of the intergranular voids ratio {e(s)} and two hypoplastic parameters model Hs and n for calculation of the maximum voids ratio.
The cedometric tests results made in the laboratory show that the fines content transition {F(ct)} of Chlef sand is in good agreement with the results published in the literature. The results obtained indicate that the higher value of fines fraction {F(c)} in the sand cause an increase in the compressibility coefficient {C(c)} and the granular compressibility coefficient {C(c-s)}.
Moreover increasing the density from 65 to 80% decreased both coefficients ({C(c)} and {C(c-s)}. The samples prepared with the moist tamping method (w = 3%) have compressibility coefficients greater than samples prepared by the dry pluviation method (w = 0%).
We have shown that the fines content transition {F(ct)} depends on the initial state of the samples (relative density, preparation method and maximum void ratio). Finally the granulometric characteristics {D(10), D(50) and C(u)} have a significant effect on compression behavior.
Nevertheless a good exponential correlation has been found between the compressibility coefficient {C(c)}, the granular compressibility coefficient {C(c-s)} and the effective diameter {D(10)}, the average diameter {D(50)} and the uniformity coefficient {C(u)}.