Strain accumulation in sand due to drained cyclic loading: On the effect of monotonic and cyclic preloading (Miner's rule)

An experimental validation of Miner's rule for freshly pluviated sand is presented. Drained triaxial tests with four packages of 25,000 cycles applied in different sequences have been performed. It is demonstrated that an effect of the sequence of application on the “cyclic flow rule” ɛ˙qacc/ɛ˙vacc and on the final value of the residual strain ɛaccɛacc can be neglected for practical purposes. In contrast to the significant reduction in the rate of accumulation caused by a cyclic preloading, only a slight decrease of the intensity of accumulation ɛ˙acc was measured after a drained monotonic preloading. The cyclic flow rule remains unchanged by the monotonic preloading. These experimental findings are considered in the high-cycle accumulation (HCA) model proposed by the authors. Re-calculations of the laboratory tests with the HCA model confirm a good prediction. A change of ɛ˙qacc/ɛ˙vacc and ɛ˙acc due to changes of the average stress σavσav needs further investigations.