Moisture Effects on the High Strain-Rate Behavior of Sand (Preprint)

Abstract

The effects of moisture content on the high strain rate mechanical properties of fine grain sand were characterized with a split-Hopkinson pressure bar. A controlled loading pulse allowed the sample to acquire stress equilibrium and a constant strain-rate of 400 s(exp -1). The sand specimen confined in a hardened steel tube, had a dry density of 1/50 g/cm(exp 3) with moisture contents varied from 3% to 20% by weight. Experimental results indicate that partially saturated sand is more compressible than dry sand with the softest behavior observed at 7% moisture content. The softening of the partially saturated sand may occur due to the pore water acting as a lubricant between the sand particles. Similar trends were reported in the quasi-static regime for experiments conducted at comparable specimen conditions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA479918

Entities

People

  • Bo Song
  • Bradley Martin
  • Stephen A. Akers
  • Weinong Chen

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Engineering
  • Frequency
  • Materials
  • Materials Testing
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanics
  • Modulus Of Elasticity
  • Moisture Content
  • Shear Properties
  • Strain Gages
  • Strain Rate
  • Stress Strain Relations
  • Stress Waves
  • Stresses
  • Test Methods

Readers

  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.
  • Pavement Materials Engineering.