Residual deformation characteristics of partially saturated sandy soils subjected to seismic excitation

Multiple series of triaxial tests were carried out on unsaturated sandy soils subjected to irregular seismic excitation. To observe the volume changes of unsaturated soil specimens during undrained loading and subsequent process of drainage, the inner cell was newly installed inside the large triaxial cell. The soil samples tested were recovered from the construction site of a liquefied natural gas storage facility located in Tokyo Bay area. In the tests, the initial conditions of soil specimens were specified with the degrees of saturation Sr of 50, 75 and 100%. The soil specimens were anisotropically consolidated, and subjected to undrained irregular seismic excitation. The time history of irregular seismic excitation was the one obtained from one of the recent earthquakes in Japan. The drainage line was then opened to let the excess pore water drain out of soil specimens. The volume changes and residual shear strains of unsaturated soil specimens thus obtained are presented in the present paper.