ABSTRACT
In this study, the liquefaction responses of partially saturated sand samples prepared by Induced Partial Saturation (IPS) technique were investigated on small-size specimens tested in dynamic simple shear test device with confining pressure (DSS-C) and compared to the published findings from large-size specimen tests performed on shaking table. The small-size specimens were prepared at 70–87% degrees of saturation (S). The tests were performed under 50–150 kPa vertical effective stresses (σ′v) where equal amount of back pressure (u0) was applied. Shaking table tests were performed by Eseller-Bayat et al. (2013) on large-size specimens with S=60–80% and excess pore water pressures were measured under σ′v=2–3 kPa. In both experimental setups, shear strain amplitudes (γ) were kept constant at 0.1–0.2%. As a comparison of strain controlled liquefaction tests, excess pore water pressure ratio (ru) increased with number of cycles (N) and stabilized at a maximum value (ru,max) which was less than 1.0 in large-size specimens. However, in small-size specimens, ru was increasing with increasing N and did not stabilize at a constant ru,max value.
