Development of Excess Pore Water Pressure in Sand during K0-Controlled Cyclic Loading

Abstract

Understanding the characteristics of the development of excess pore water pressure during cyclic loading is important to evaluating the dynamic behavior of soils. Many researchers have proposed experimental models to estimate pore water pressure. However, existing experimental models are mainly based on experimental results obtained under isostatic and constant amplitude loading. In this study, K0-controlled cyclic loading is undertaken by simulating a horizontal stratified ground, and the development of excess pore water pressure is evaluated by measuring the accumulated shear strain; a modified accumulated shear strain is proposed based on these results. The results show that the excess pore water pressure can be predicted from the modified accumulated shear strain, regardless of soil type, initial soil pressure coefficient, initial shear stress, or the shape of input waveform.