Probabilistic assessment of cyclic soil straining in fine-grained soils

This paper presents a probabilistically-based semi-empirical model for the assessment of cyclically-induced shear and post-cyclic volumetric (reconsolidation) straining of saturated fine-grained soils. Consolidated-undrained, strain-controlled static, and stress-controlled cyclic triaxial tests have been performed on undisturbed silty and clayey samples for the purpose of compiling a database composed of induced maximum cyclic shear and post-cyclic volumetric strains along with Atterberg limits, natural moisture content, undrained static shear strength. The maximum likelihood methodology is used to develop limit-state models incorporating the selected descriptive variables for the estimation of cyclically-induced soil straining. Results are summarized in the form of a semi-empirical stochastic model which enables the estimation of cyclically-induced maximum shear and post-cyclic volumetric straining as a function of liquid limit, plasticity index, natural moisture content, undrained shear strength, cyclic shear stresses. © 2008 ASCE