Resilient and permanent deformation of unsaturated unbound granular materials under cyclic loading by the large-scale triaxial tests

In various parts of the globe, carbonate sands are found at shallow sea water depth. These types of sands are very susceptible to large-scale particle breakage. Offshore structures like wind turbines and sea defences are constructed on these types of soils. From a design perspective, it is essential to assess the extent of particle breakage and the subsequent change in soil properties that occur under working load conditions. This paper presents the data obtained from a number of drained monotonic and cyclic triaxial tests on crushable carbonate sand (“Ballyconnelly sand”) in conjunction with small-strain shear stiffness (Gmax) measurements using the bender element technique. The soils were allowed to shear under three different loading patterns to understand the factors influencing the breakage of particles. The degree of crushing was quantified and analysed based on the total energy input. It was observed that, apart from applied stress, the total strain accumulation governs the amount of particle breakage. It was observed that Gmax increased significantly under high stress ratio. Gmax also increased noticeably during resting periods without any change in loading conditions as a result of creep, and subsequently during cyclic loading although at a reduced rate.

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An Evaluation of the Resilient Modulus and Permanent Deformation of Unbound Mixtures of Granular Materials and Rubber Particles from Scrap Tyres to Be Used in Subballast Layers

Libro de Actas CIT2016. XII Congreso de Ingeniería del Transporte ◽

10.4995/cit2016.2016.4231 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Carlos Hidalgo Sgnes

Keyword(s):

Granular Materials ◽

Resilient Modulus ◽

Permanent Deformation ◽

Waste Material ◽

Triaxial Tests ◽

Rubber Content ◽

Cyclic Triaxial ◽

Cyclic Triaxial Tests ◽

Vibration Attenuation ◽

Rubber Particles

Over the last years rubber from scrap tyres has been reused in different civil works such as road embankments and railway platforms due to its resilient properties, low degradation and vibration attenuation. Unfortunately, this issue is still scarce. For instance, in Spain about 175.000 tonnes of scrap tyres were collected in 2014, of which only 0.6% were reused in civil works. Aiming to contribute to the reutilisation of large quantities of this waste material, this paper focuses on the analysis of unbound mixtures of granular materials with different percentages of rubber particles to be used as subballast layers. Mixtures are tested under cyclic triaxial tests so as to obtain their resilient modulus and evaluate their permanent deformations. It is found that as the rubber content increases, the resilient modulus decreases and the permanent deformation increases. Taking into account the usual loads transmitted to the subballast layer, the optimum rubber content that does not compromise the behaviour of the mixture is set in a range between 2.5% and 5% in terms of weight.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/CIT2016.2016.4231

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