Experimental Study on Shear Mechanical Characteristics of Cohesionless Granular material

The direct shear mechanical characteristics of gravel, sand and steel particle were studied systematically using DRS-1 high normal stress direct and residual shear apparatus. The results show that the shear mechanical characteristics of gravel, sand and steel particle is different under different normal stress condition. For steel particle, the curves of shear stress-shear displacement present strain softening regardless of the magnitude of normal stress, and the shear displacement corresponding to the peak shear stress increases with the normal stress. Under low normal stress condition, the volume of fine gravel and steel particle expand, but the fine sand contracts at the beginning of direct shear and then contracts. Under high normal stress condition, the volume of steel particle contracts at the beginning of the direct shear and then contracts, but the fine sand and fine gravel contract throughout the direct shear. The particle breakage has significant effect on the shear strength of fine sand and fine gravel. Under the same high normal stress condition, the volume of fine gravel is greater than that of fine sand, which indicates that the fine gravel is easier to be crushed than the fine sand.