ASTM D5311/D5311M-13
Standard Test Method for Load Controlled Cyclic Triaxial Strength of Soil

Standard No.

ASTM D5311/D5311M-13

Release Date

2013

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Latest

ASTM D5311/D5311M-13

Scope

5.1 Cyclic triaxial strength test results are used for evaluating the ability of a soil to resist the shear stresses induced in a soil mass due to earthquake or other cyclic loading.

5.1.1 Cyclic triaxial strength tests may be performed at different values of effective confining pressure on isotropically consolidated specimens to provide data required for estimating the cyclic stability of a soil.

5.1.2 Cyclic triaxial strength tests may be performed at a single effective confining pressure, usually equal to 100 kN/m² [14.5 lb/in.²], or alternate pressures as appropriate on isotropically consolidated specimens to compare cyclic strength results for a particular soil type with that of other soils, Ref (2).

5.2 The cyclic triaxial test is a commonly used technique for determining cyclic soil strength.

5.3 Cyclic strength depends upon many factors, including density, confining pressure, applied cyclic shear stress, stress history, grain structure, age of soil deposit, specimen preparation procedure, and the frequency, uniformity, and shape of the cyclic wave form. Thus, close attention must be given to testing details and equipment.

5.4 There are certain limitations inherent in using cyclic triaxial tests to simulate the stress and strain conditions of a soil element in the field during an earthquake.

5.4.1 Nonuniform stress conditions within the test specimen are imposed by the specimen end platens. This can cause a redistribution of void ratio within the specimen during the test.

5.4.2 A 90° change in the direction of the major principal stress occurs during the two halves of the loading cycle on isotropically consolidated specimens.

5.4.3 The maximum cyclic shear stress that can be applied to the specimen is controlled by the stress conditions at the end of consolidation and the pore-water pressures generated during testing. For an isotropically consolidated contractive (volume decreasing) specimen tested in cyclic compression, the maximum cyclic shear stress that can be applied to the specimen is equal to one-half of the initial total axial pressure. Since cohesionless soils are not capable of taking tension, cyclic shear stresses greater than this value tend to lift the top platen from the soil specimen. Also, as the pore-water pressure increases during tests performed on isotropically consolidated specimens, the effective confining pressure is reduced, contributing to the tendency of the specimen to neck during the extension portion of the load cycle, invalidating test results beyond that point.

5.4.4 While it is advised that the best possible intact specimens be obtained for cyclic strength testing, it is sometimes necessary to reconstitute soil specimens. It has been shown that different methods of reconstituting specimens to the same density may result in significantly different cyclic strengths. Also, intact specimens will almost always be stronger than reconstituted specimens.

5.4.5 The interaction between the specimen, membrane, and confining fluid has an influence on cyclic behavior. Membrane compliance effects cannot be readily accounted for in the test procedure or in interpretation of test results. Changes in porewater pressure can cause changes in membrane penetration in sp......

ASTM D5311/D5311M-13 Referenced Document

• ASTM D1587 Standard Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils for Geotechnical Purposes
• ASTM D2216 Standard Test Method for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
• ASTM D2850 Standard Test Method for Unconsolidated-Undrained Triaxial CompressionTest on Cohesive Soils
• ASTM D3740 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
• ASTM D422 Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils
• ASTM D4220 Standard Practices for Preserving and Transporting Soil Samples
• ASTM D4253 Standard test method for maximum index density and unit weight of soil using a shaking table*， 2024-04-20 Update
• ASTM D4254 Standard Test Methods for Minimum Index Density and Unit Weight of Soils and Calculation of Relative Density*， 2024-04-20 Update
• ASTM D4318 Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
• ASTM D4767 Standard Test Method for Consolidated Undrained Triaxial Compression Test for Cohesive Soils
• ASTM D6026 Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical Data
• ASTM D653 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
• ASTM D854 Standard Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by the Water Displacement Method

ASTM D5311/D5311M-13 history

• 2013 ASTM D5311/D5311M-13 Standard Test Method for Load Controlled Cyclic Triaxial Strength of Soil
• 2011 ASTM D5311-11 Standard Test Method for Load Controlled Cyclic Triaxial Strength of Soil
• 1992 ASTM D5311-92(2004)e1 Standard Test Method for Load Controlled Cyclic Triaxial Strength of Soil
• 1992 ASTM D5311-92(2004) Standard Test Method for Load Controlled Cyclic Triaxial Strength of Soil
• 1992 ASTM D5311-92(1996) Standard Test Method for Load Controlled Cyclic Triaxial Strength of Soil