Cemented Sands under Static Loading

TLDR

Cemented sands, common worldwide and especially along the California coast, can support steep natural slopes and are increasingly exposed to urban development near their crests. The study aimed to characterize the cementation of these sands and assess its influence on soil behavior. To achieve this, 137 laboratory compression and tension tests were conducted on undisturbed natural and artificially prepared cemented sand samples. The tests revealed that cemented sands exhibit friction angles comparable to uncemented sands but possess a cementation strength intercept and tensile strength, with primary cementing agents being silicates and iron oxides, and overall strength governed by density, cementing agent content, grain shape, and arrangement.

Abstract

Cemented sands are found in many areas of the world; one of their distinguishing characteristics is their ability to stand in steep natural slopes. Large deposits are located along the California coast, and in a number of areas intense urban development has occurred near the crest of high, steep slopes. Because of the hazards posed by slope failures in the cemented sands, a test program was undertaken to define the nature of the cementation and its effect on behavior of the soils. A total of 137 laboratory compression and tension load tests were performed on undisturbed samples of naturally cemented sands and artificially prepared cemented sands. The materials exhibited friction angles similar to uncemented sands, but had a cementation strength intercept and a tensile strength. The primary cementing agents of the sands tested were silicates and iron oxides. The strength of the cemented sands were found to be a function of density, amount of cementing agent, grain shape and grain arrangement.