ABSTRACT
It is known that density and pressure enhance the strength and dilatancy of sand. The effect of density was first recognised by Taylor (1948) and later by Skempton & Bishop (1950). Taylor investigated the mechanical behaviour of dry Ottawa sand and explained the increase in strength as a consequence of sand particles interlocking which causes the specimen to increase in volume. Rowe (1962) suggested a stress-dilatancy theory based on energy considerations and is able to explain the increase in strength through dilatancy considering friction terms only (De Josselin De Jong 1976). The effect of pressure was later recognised and formulations were proposed to predict the peak dilatancy rate (Been & Jefferies 1985, Bolton 1986).
