Comparative Study of Stress History Effects on Shear-Deformation Relations of Sands from the Mediterranean Region Integrating Specimen Preparation Techniques

Abstract

Despite several parameters having been identified as having an impact on the undrained monotonic response of granular soils, the impact of the overconsolidation ratio (OCR) is still a contentious issue. One of the significant reasons for the inconsistencies in the undrained behavior is the method by which the stresses are applied––specifically, the effective preconsolidation and confining pressures. To address this, two separate series of triaxial compression tests were realized in order to examine and compare the influence of the OCR (OCR = 1, 2, 4, and 8) on the mechanical response of Chlef River (Algeria) sand, considering the way the stress state was applied. During the first series, the OCR was accomplished by consolidating the specimens to an effective preconsolidation pressure (