Identifier

etd-0711103-101559

Degree

Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE)

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

This thesis presents the results of the experimental work conducted on glass beads in order to investigate the effects of particle size, confining pressure, and surface roughness on the strength properties of the particulate media. Conventional triaxial compression tests were conducted to investigate those effects. Three different sizes of beads were tested: small (diameter = 0.75 – 1.00 mm), medium (diameter = 1.55 – 1.85 mm), and large (diameter = 3.30 – 3.60 mm). The glass beads were subjected to three different confining pressures: 25-, 100-, and 400-kPa. Smooth and etched beads were tested; the etched surface was achieved by submerging the beads in a bath of Hydrofluoric acid. It was found that as the confining pressure increases, the peak stress ratio decreases. Also, it was found that an increase in roughness produces an increase in the peak friction angle. The particle size was found to affect the stress-strain and volumetric strain behavior of the beads; however, a specific trend was not found.

Date

2003

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Dante O. Fratta

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.2470

Download

Share

COinS