In uence of nes content and type on the small-strain shear modulus of sand

The small-strain shear modulus, G0, is an important fundamental soil property. Although many studies have been conducted on this property for clean sands and pure clays, small-strain behavior for mixtures of sand and nes has been less addressed. This paper presents the results of a comprehensive laboratory study on G0 value of sand containing various amounts of dierent nes. To this aim, bender elements were integrated into a conventional triaxial apparatus, and shear wave velocity was measured on samples of sand with dierent amounts of highly-plastic, medium-plastic, low-plastic, or non-plastic nes at dierent void ratios. Measuring the shear wave velocity and thus obtaining G0 at dierent void ratios and eective stresses, the intrinsic parameters that characterize G0 were determined for the tested materials. This allowed the eects of nes type and content on the G0 value of sand to be evaluated in a systematic manner. The G0 values of dierent sand-nes mixtures were compared based on dierent density parameters. Results show that G0 of silty and clayey sands is aected by both nes content and nes type. Therefore, in order to estimate G0 of sand-nes mixture, not only the nes content but also their plasticity needs to be properly accounted