Passive arching in rubberized sand backfills

Abstract

The deformation and stress profiles of passive arching in a coarse sand and two rubberized sand backfills were investigated using a trapdoor apparatus. The trapdoor apparatus was instrumented with high-speed imaging equipment and a series of pressure sensors. The images of the deformation process in the backfills were analysed using the digital image correlation technique. The effect of a local surcharge on the deformation and stress profiles was also examined. It was observed that the rubber inclusions helped reduce the deformation of the backfills. Passive arching moduli and stress variations between the backfills examined are compared.