EFFECTS OF ADDITION OF LARGE PERCENTAGES OF FLY ASH ON LIQUEFACTION BEHAVIOR OF SAND.

Author

Gaurav Regmi, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

8-1-2014

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Civil Engineering

First Advisor

Puri, Vijay

Abstract

The liquefaction resistance of a saturated medium sand with varying amount of non-plastic type F fly ash was evaluated by conducting cyclic triaxial tests. The test results were used to evaluate the effect of addition of various percentages of fly ash on the liquefaction resistance of Ottawa sand. The effect of cyclic shear stress and confining pressure on liquefaction resistance of the sand-fly ash mixtures was the main scope of this research. In addition, the Young's Modulus and Damping Ratio for sand-fly ash mixtures were also determined. A comprehensive experimental program was conducted in which 50 stress controlled cyclic triaxial tests were performed on a clean sand, sand containing 25%, 30%, 50% and 70% fly ash at a constant relative density of 50%. The results show that sand containing 25% fly ash has the highest liquefaction resistance under cyclic loading in comparison to clean sand and sand containing 30%, 50% and 70% fly ash. The cyclic resistance goes on decreasing as the fly ash content further increases. The test result also shows that the liquefaction resistance of the clean sand and sand containing 70% fly ii ash is almost same. The test results were also examined in terms of the conceptual framework of Thevanayagam (2000). The effects on liquefaction resistance were also measured in terms of pore water pressure generation and deformation of the sample. As the confining pressure increases, shear stress required to cause initial liquefaction of the sample also increases. Modulus of Elasticity was seen to increase with increase in confining pressure and decrease with increase in axial strain for all cases of sand-fly ash mixtures used in these tests. The damping ratio of the sample increases with the increase in axial strain upto about 1% and then it either decreases or remains constant thereafter. There was no clear correlation of damping ratio with confining pressure.