Observation of shear banding characteristics of sand in torsional shear test using image analysis technique

Abstract

Accurate measurement in shear banding and strain localization studies is critical in characterizing the microstructural behavior within failure area. This research is aimed to investigate the effects of initial relative density on the shear banding behavior of sand. A series of tests on Toyoura sand with different initial relative densities were conducted using a hollow cylinderical torsional shear apparatus under drained condition. Unlike the tests conducted on prismatic specimens on plane strain condition, the tests conducted on hollow cylinderical specimens require more complex data analysis due to the curvature of their outer side surface. The test results both dilatancy rate and shear band expansion magnitude are found to have unique relationships with the specimen initial relative density. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.