Rubber-soil mixtures: use of grading entropy theory to evaluate stiffness and liquefaction susceptibility

Abstract Rubber-soil mixtures are known to have mechanical properties that enable their use in backfills, road construction or geotechnical seismic isolation systems. The complexity of these comes from adding soft (i.e. rubber) particles increases the number particle consider when studying macroscopic behaviour. distinction between sand-like and rubber-like behaviour is normally presented relation rubber content size ratio particles. It however unknown how change on mixture gradation affects RSm. Entropy coordinates condense entire distribution (PSD) a single point Cartesian plane, accounting for all information gradation. Grading entropy been used study typical behaviours mostly incompressible sand) soils. In this study, analyse correlation small-strain stiffness liquefaction susceptibility RSm PSDs. results suggest can be effectively as an alternative means assessment soil behaviours, being also able distinguish behaviours. Based 30 PSDs analysed, it evidenced internal stability criterion proposed by Lőrincz (1986) predict normalised base (A) has shown increase with content, which linked lower susceptibility, due supporting effect strong-force chains formed sand