Static and Cyclic Triaxial Behavior of Cemented Sand with Nanosilica

Abstract

Recently, improvement of cemented soils’ properties using nanoparticles has been taken into consideration by engineers. However, no attention has been paid to the effect of using nanosilica and cement on the static cyclic triaxial behavior of sandy soil. In this study, the role of nanosilica on the static and cyclic shear behavior of cemented sand is investigated. For this purpose, shear strength tests are performed, as well as unconfined compressive tests and static and cyclic triaxial tests. In static and cyclic triaxial tests, cement content used is 5% and 14% (dry weight) of the sand. The nanosilica contents were 0%, 5%, 10%, and 20% (dry weight) of the cement. The results of the performed tests show that the strength of specimens increases and then decreases with increasing weight ratio of nanosilica up to 10%. Addition of nanosilica improves the brittle behavior. Moreover, by increasing the weight ratio of nanosilica up to 10%, the dynamic deformation modulus and damping ratio of cemented sand increases at first and then decreases.