Effect of fines on the compression behaviour of poorly graded silica sand

A series of high-pressure isotropic compression tests were performed on four types of poorly graded silica sand that were artificially prepared based on representative grading curves and similar mineralogy composition of seabed sediment containing different fines contents existing in the Nankai Trough. The addition of fines steepens the initial compression path and increases the decrement of the void ratio after loading. The transitional behaviour of the poorly graded sand with a larger amount of fines content was identified. The slope of the normal compression line shows a slight decreasing tendency with the level of fines content. The bulk modulus of silica sand with fines was lower when compared with the published results of silica sand without fines. A small amount of particle crushing of the four types of poorly graded sand with variable fines content levels was noticed, and the results indicated that the degree of particle crushing tended to decrease as the fines content increased.