Mechanical Behavior of Cemented Sand under Plane Strain Condition

Most of the previous studies on the behavior of cemented sand were carried out under axisymmetric conditions. In this study, the failure and stress-strain behavior of cemented sand under plane strain conditions were investigated by drained plane strain tests. It was found that the behavior of cemented sand was much affected by its consolidation history, as the bonding began to break when the consolidated stress was larger than the yielding stress during coefficient of lateral earth pressure at rest (K0) consolidation. The growth of the intermediate principal effective stress (σ 2 ′) made the stress-strain curve stiffer and less dilative under plane strain than under axisymmetric conditions. The bonding mobilization during the test was analyzed using an energy-balance approach. The friction between the sand particles and the breaking of the cementation bonding was assumed to dissipate the work done on the cemented sand. The peak friction angle of the cemented sand was not influenced by the cement content (cc), while the effective cohesion increased with the amount of cementation, as indicated by the cc in a power function relationship. In comparison to axisymmetric conditions, plane strain conditions result in a higher friction angle and lower cohesive strength.