A laboratory-based study correlating the large-strain static constrained modulus to the small-strain shear modulus for clean sands

ABSTRACT: Correlating the stiffness parameters of the soil at opposite ends of the strain spectrum has a unique interest for geotechnical engineers as it may contribute to predicting the bearing capacity from simple field measurements. In particular, the static large-strain constrained modulus (Moedo) could be related to the small-strain shear modulus (G0) regarding the variation of the physical and mechanical parameters of the soil. In this study, G0 was estimated from the shear wave velocity (Vs) measurements using the piezoelectric ring-actuator technique (P-RAT) on six different clean sands with different characteristics. The corresponding Moedo values were derived from the properties of the resulted stress-strain curves. Based on the analyses of results obtained, correlations between Moedo and Vs and/or G0 were established considering the different physical characteristics. These relationships may be utilized to predict soil moduli at large deformations from in-situ Vs measurements.