Physical and Mechanical Properties of Stockton Beach Sand

Abstract

The mechanical behaviour of Stockton Beach sand was investigated by conducting direct shear tests and conventional triaxial tests. The tests were conducted on reconstituted samples prepared to a variety of relative densities. Stockton Beach sand is a silica sand which was obtained from a commercial quarry in the Newcastle area. A detailed understanding of the physical and mechanical properties of this sand was required as it is being used at the University of Newcastle in calibration chamber tests of in situ devices such as the pressuremeter and the dilatometer. The physical properties of the sand such as mineralogy, grain shape, grading and maximum and minimum density are given. The results of the shear and triaxial tests are interpreted and show the sand to behave as a conventional poorly graded silica sand. The peak and critical state for the sand are identified along with the dilation angle.