Soil parameters for deformation analysis of sand masses

Meaningful stress and deformation analysis of soil structures requires an adequate stress–strain law. Herein are presented guidelines for selection of parameters for a simple incremental hyperbolic stress–strain law for sand based upon a tangent stiffness that varies with stress level. The parameters are obtained from an examination of laboratory and field measurements available in the literature, and are presented in terms of both penetration value and relative density. The laboratory results indicate the importance of first-time or primary loading versus repeated loading on modulus values. Back analysis of field observations for monotonic loading conditions indicates that primary loading modulus values obtained from triaxial tests are appropriate at low relative density, whereas perhaps higher values, in the repeated loading range, are appropriate at high relative densities.