Abstract:

Analysis of response of level ground subjected to earthquake is one of the most important problems in geotechnical engineering practice. By use of the bi-axial shaker installed on the geotechnical centrifuge at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, a centrifuge dynamic test was performed on a saturated sand ground model under a bi-axial earthquake loading. Based on definitions of stress and strain, and the D'Alembert's principle, stress and strain of soils at various depths were derived from the data of acceleration, displacement, as well as excess pore pressure measured in the test. The stress paths and stress-strain relationships of saturated sand during the shaking event, and their connection with development of excess pore pressure were revealed.

Key words: centrifuge, shaking table, sand, stress path, stress-strain relationship, D'Alembert's principle