Large Scale Direct Shear Box Tests on Gravels

The determination of shear strength characteristics gravelly soils is difficult through the use conventional small scale, triaxial or simple testing devices in laboratory due to membrane compliance and boundary effects; inconsistent penetration resistances measured as part standard cone field. These limitations require available empirical semi-empirical relationships execution large scale field tests. In literature there exists inconsistent, range recommendations for parameters. Within confines this study, direct box test results performed on poorly- (GP) well-graded (GW) gravel samples with initial void ratio ranging from 0.42 0.53 are presented, which tested under effective normal stresses 77 205 kPa. estimated peak secant-angles shearing vary 49 54 degrees. On basis volumetric change vs. strain responses, angle dilation elastic Poisson’s 10-16 degrees 0.28-0.39, respectively. values compared literature.