Basic Research on Cutting Forces in Saturated Sand

Abstract

A theory for the cutting of sand under water has been developed. During the process of cutting saturated sand, the deformation rate is very important because of the effect of dilatancy. Decreasing pore‐water pressure due to dilatancy increases the effective stress. These higher effective stresses result in large cutting forces at high deformation rates. The pore‐water pressure changes during the cutting process are calculated, and, subsequently, a prediction is given of the cutting forces. Calculated pore‐water pressures and cutting forces are compared with the results of full‐scale tests.