Effect of consolidation ratios on maximum dynamic shear modulus of sands

The dynamic shear modulus (DSM) is the most basic soil parameter in earthquake or other dynamic loading conditions and can be obtained through testing in the field or in the laboratory. The effect of consolidation ratios of the maximum DSM for two types of sand is investigated by using resonant column tests. And, an increment formula to obtain the maximum DSM for cases of consolidation ratio k _c>1 is presented. The results indicate that the maximum DSM rises rapidly when k _c is near 1 and then slows down, which means that the power function of the consolidation ratio increment k _c-1 can be used to describe the variation of the maximum DSM due to k _c>1. The results also indicate that the increase in the maximum DSM due to k _c>1 is significantly larger than that predicted by Hardin and Black's formula. Supported by: The Science and Technology Ministration of China and the Earthquake Science Foundation of China (Grand No. 102033)