SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS Vol. 18, No. 1, Mar.

1978
Japanese Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering

SHEAR MODULI OF SANDS UNDER CYCLIC

TORSIONAL SHEAR LOADING

TosHIO IwASAK1*, FuM10 TATSUOKA** and YosHIKAzu TAKAGI***

ABSTRACT
To evaluate degree of reduction in shear moduli of sands with an increase in shear strain
amplitude, dynamic soil tests were performed with use of hollow cylindrical samples apply-
ing torsional shearing forces. Two types of soil testing equipments, a resonant-column
apparatus and a torsional shear apparatus, were employed. It is pointed out that shear
moduli at shear strain amplitude of 10- 4 obtained from these two different equipments agree
satisfactorily. Furthermore, extents of reduction in shear moduli with an increase in
shear strain amplitude are shown for various sands. These data are compared with those
presented by other investigators. On the basis of test results, a simplfied procedure for
predicting reduction in shear modulus with an increase in shear strain amplitude is proposed.

Key words: deformation, dynamic, sand, special shear test, torsion, vibration
IGC: D6/D7

INTRODUCTION
It is essential to properly estimate strain-dependent shear moduli and damping properties
of soils in analysing soil-structure interactions and earthquake responses of grounds and
soils structures. Shear moduli and damping properties of soils at a shear strain level to be
induced in grounds during strong earthquakes may be evaluated as follows. First, shear
moduli at shear strain r of around 10- 5 are obtained from in situ seismic surveys. Then,
shear strains wich are induced in grounds during strong earthquakes are estimated by com-
putation and found to be around 10-s or around 10- 2 at the largest, which are much larger
than 10-a. Reduction in shear moduli with increasing shear strain can be obtained by labora-
tory soil testings. Internal dampings of soils can also be obtained by laboratory testings.
To determine a reliable relationship between shear moduli and shear strains, it firstly
becomes necessary to know shear moduli at shear strain of around 10-s by laboratory soil
testings. For this purpose, the resonant-column method is one of the best laboratory soil
testing procedures. For alluvial-origin sands, Stakoe and Richart (1973), Cunny and
Fry (1973), Iwasaki and Tatsuoka (1977) and Richart, Anderson and Stokoe (1977) have
found good agreements between resonant-column results and in situ seismic survey values.
This is due to the fact that the secondary time effect is negligible for sands. At the shear
strain level larger than 10- 4 , sands behave as non-elastic materials and have rather large
* Chief, Ground Vibration Section, Earthquake Disaster Prevention Division, Public Works Research
Institute, Ministry of Construction, 4-12-52, Anagawa, Chiba.
** Associate Professor, Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, 22-1, Roppongi 7,
Minato-ku, Tokyo. Formerly, Research Engineer, do.
*** Assistant Research Engineer, do.
Written discussions on this paper should be submitted before January 1, 1979.

This is an Open Access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license.

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40 IWASAKI ET AL.

dampings. For this range of strain, the resonant-column method is not a proper one
in evaluating soil properties. To obtain shear moduli and dampings of soils for the shear
strain level larger than 10-4, several devices have been developed. Typical examples are
dynamic triaxial test devices (Park and Silver, 1975), box type simple shear devices (Kovacs,
Seed and Chan, 1971; Sugimoto, Suzuki, Terada and Watanabe, 1974), NGI type simple
shear devices (Theirs and Seed, 1968; Silver and Seed, 1971; Hara and Kiyo ta, 1976),
hollow cylinder static torsional shear devices (Hardin and Drnevich, 1972 a, 1972 b; Sherif
.and Ishibashi, 1976) and a ring torsion shear apparatus (Yoshimi and Oh-Oka, 1973).
In the present study, two devices, a resonant-column apparatus applicable for the strain
of r=I0- 6 to 10- 4 and a torsional shear device for the strain of r=I0- 4 to 10- 2 , were em-
ployed. For the two types of testings, hollow cylindrical samples with identical cross-sec-
tions were used, because nearly uniform shear strain are induced throughout hollow
cylindrical specimens. Furthermore, the identical consolidation stress condition was adopted
for the both tests.
Presented herein are shear moduli of various kinds of sands for shear strain of 10- 6 to
10- 2 which were obtained by utilizing a Drnevich-type resonant-column apparatus and a
torsional shear apparatus. Sands tested involved clean ones and other natural sands which
include fine soils to some extent. Consecutive values of shear moduli for the strain range
of r = 10- 5 to 10- 2 were obtained from the two testing procedures. Test results are com-
pared with those by other investigators. A simplified relationship between shear moduli and
shear strains is proposed to provide a design engineer with a convenient tool to estimate
shear moduli of sands subjected to large strains.

APPARATUS

Resonant-Column Apparatus
A hollow cylindrical specimen in resonant-column test is 25 cm in height, 10 cm in out-
side diameter and 6 cm in inside diameter. A sample is fixed at the bottom and torsional
forces are applied at the top. The total rotational inertia of the top mass is 0. 1926 kg-cm
-sec 2 • The spring constant is l, 000 kg-cm/radian at the amplitude of 0. 00043 radians and
the spring constant varies slightly with the amplitude. Isotropical confining stress condition
is adopted in this study. The consolidation time for each confining pressure is taken about
2 hours. Loosely packed samples were made by different two methods; the spooning method
and the raining method. In the spooning method, air-dry sands were poured with a spoon
into a mold and a loosely packed saturated sample was made by pouring de-aired saturated
sands with a spoon into a mold which was fulfilled with de-aired water in advance. In
the raining method, air-dry sands were poured into a mold through a small hole with the
diameter of 3 mm from a constant height of 10 cm above the sand surface. In the spoon-
ing and tapping method for dense samples, densification of samples made by the spooning
method was achieved by tapping the mold with a wooden hammer. In each test, fresh
sands were used.
By using the resonant-column apparatus, shear moduli and dampings of sands for the
shear strain ranging from about 10- 5 to about 10- 4 were measured. Details of the appara-
tus and the testing procedures are described in the previous papers (Kuribayashi, Iwasaki
and Tatsuoka, 1975; and also Iwasaki and Tatsuoka, 1977).

Torsional Shear Device

For obtaining soil properties for strain range of r = 10- 4 to 10- 2 , a torsional shear device
was developed. In the device, torsional loads and torsional displacements can be measured
directly. Fig. 1 shows the schematic drawing of the apparatus. Photo. 1 shows a close

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 SHEAR MODULI OF SANDS 41

INon- Rolot,or.ol,
lver!ico\ly Mo·Jct·e
0

Block Guided
LbY o Verltcol Ser

Oetochobte Bose

Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of torsional Photo. 1. Close view of triaxial cell

shear device of torsional shear device

view of the triaxial cell of the torsional shear device without a lucid cylinder. Soil samples
with dimensions of 6 cm in inside diameter, 10 cm in outside diameter and 10 cm in height
are tested. The samples are fixed at bottom and torsional loads are applied at the top of
the samples. Equal lateral confining pressures are applied to both the outside and the in-
side of the hollow samples. Axial loads exerted by air pressures are applied through a
loading shaft as shown in Fig. 1. The initial stresses in a sample prior to application of
dynamic shear stress are under isotropical consolidating conditions where no initial torsional
stresses exist. As described in the above, for both resonant-column tests and torsional
shear tests, shapes and cross-sectional dimensions of samples, confining stress conditions and
the procedures for applying torsional loads are identical. Heights of samples and strain
rates in cyclic loadings, however, are different. Accordingly, it is seen that deformation
properties for the shear strain of r=l0- 6 to 10- 2 evaluated by the two types of devices in
this study can be compared under the identical conditions of sample shapes, confining stresses
and loading manners. Torsional loads are measured by a torque pickup which is located
in the loading shaft just above a sample to eliminate errors due to the friction. Cyclic
torsional forces were applied by controlling air-pressure in a cylinder which is arranged
above the triaxial cell. The change in air-pressures in the cylinder is rendered into the
torsional forces in the loading shaft through gears. The air-pressures are controlled
by handoperations using pressure-regulators. Pseudo-sinusoidal torsional forces with the
period of about 10 seconds are produced. Torsional displacements at the top of a sample
were monitored by a potentiometer which is set up just above the sample as shown in Fig.
1 and Photo. 1. With use of a wheel, cyclic torsional displacements of the sample are
first amplified mechanically five times. The rotation of this wheel is transformed into the
change in electric current by the potentiometer. Then, the current is amplified and the
amplified current is recorded. In this arrangement, the change in the electric current is
linearly proportional to the rotational displacement of the wheel, from infinitely small to
infinitely large displacements. This arrangement permits a measurement of shear moduli
and damplings for a wide range of shear strains. However, from the limitation of mechani-
cal systems, the smallest shear to be measured reliably will be about r = 5X10-s.

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42 IWASA KI ET AL.

The relationship between cyclic torsional forces and cyclic torsional displacements can be
recorded in
two forms, time histories and hysteresis loops.

TEST PROCEDURES IN TORSIONAL SHEAR TESTS

In torsional shear tests, air-dry and saturated samples were prepared by the procedures
identical to those in resonant-column tests. All tests were performed under the drained con-
dition. In each test, fresh sands were used. After isotropically consolidated, a specimen
was sheared with a constant shear stress amplitude. Fig. 4 shows one of the typical test
results. In this test, the confining lateral pressure ar was 2. 0 kg/cm 2 • On the other hand,
the measured initial static axial stress aa was 2. 078 kg/cm 2 while the axial load was arranged
so that a a= 2. 0 kg/cm 2 • A small difference between a a. and a r is indispensable because a a

NOTE : Co· ord1rates of r and ( - axes ore dilferen! lor eoct stage.

Toyoura Sand ( Saturated )

P' 2.026 kg/cm2
e0 =0.590 , 10th Cycle

Fig. 2. Difinition of shear Fig. 3. Stress-strain records at 10th cycle of I to VII stages
modulus and damping (Shear moduli and damping ratios of this test are shown
ratio in Fig. 4)

and ar are controlled independently in this

apparatus. The differences were small in
all the tests conducted. The mean principal
stress P= (aa+2ar)/3 was adopted to repre-
sent a confining stress. In the test shown
in Fig. 4, p becomes (2.078+2x2.0)/3=
2. 026 (kg/cm 2). First, ten times of shear
tests were conducted for a sample at shear
strain of about 7X10-s. This first stage is
represented by the Greek letter I in Fig. 4.
The hysteresis loop at the number of cyclic
loading N=lO at the Stage I is presented at
0.3

~1~
the extremely left in Fig. 3. Then with a
larger cyclic shear stress amplitude, the
-1~
0.2
second stage (Stage II) with ten times of
II shear tests was done. In Fig. 4, seven stages
f:O- 0.1
of tests were illustrated. It is seen from
Fig. 4 that shear strain amplitudes decrease
0.0
5 10· 4 2 5 10-J 10-2 with the increase in cycles of loadings for
Single Amplitude Shear Strain ;( stages with larger shear strains. It is also
Fig. 4. Typical test result seen from Fig. 4 that as the numbers of

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 SHEAR. MODULI OF ·sANDS 43

Table 1. Test materials and test programs

D101 D50! I 1. li/.c.\Air~r°ryl'Sample**) Confining

Material Gs Uc emax.emin' Saturat- Density Pressures
(mm) (mm)
1 1
j I IC%)! ed: Preparation p (kg/cm 2 )
1.0
I I I I I I A- D I RN I Loose ·
Toyora Sand 2·. 64 .0. 12 0.162i 1. 46,0. 96 0. 64 0. 0 S I SP I Med-Loose I 1. O

1
1

1
I 1 1
A-D, sl SP+TP i{~~d~bense 10. 25, 0. 5, 1. 0, 2. 0
M--o-d-el---T-e-st-S-an_d_*_*_*l-2.-8-8.~1 0-.3-1~,0-.48:1. 52 0. 93 0. 66 0. 5 -1
1
1
1

! I ' I I I .
Ban-nosu Sand A 2. 6710.168 IO. 2611. 70!1. 1710. 82ll. 1 I
11 B 2. 66 0. 31 0. 9213. 35 1. 01 0. 68 0. 5
1
2. 6810. 151°' 3412. 7311. 03,0. 6915. 9
1
1

,, c 1

,, 15 2. 6710. 241°' 8814. 581°' 9110. 691°" 26 Spooning Dense or

,, 18 2. 6710. 3110. 9911. 20i0. 9410. 6810. 5 . and Medium-
· , Air-Dry 1. 0
,, 21 2. 61 0. 251°" 12 3. 600. 921°" 61 0. 8 Tapping Dense
1 1 1
1
Iruma Sand 2. 75 0. 28 0. 50 1. 98:0. 84!°" 5710. 6 I
1
2. 691°" 200. 3712. 25 0. 721°' 49!°" 36
1
1

Ohgi-Shima Sand
Kin~o
1 1

Sand 1 12. 6610. 16:0. 42r 88i1' 1110. 7113. 0 I

KinJo Sand 2 12. 6710. 09 0. 32 3. 89i1' 42i°" 92 8. 8 I
1 1 1
Monterey No. 0 Sand 2. 650. 32;0. 44il. 38,0. 850. 560. 0
*l F. C. ; Content of Fine Soils less than 0. 074 mm.
**l SP; Spooning Method, SP+TP; Spooning and Tapping Method, RN; Raining Method
***l After oven-dried several times.

cyclic loadings increase, shear moduli increase and dampings decrease. Shear moduli at
the tenth cyclic loading are taken as the representative values in the following. Variations
of shear moduli with respect to the number of cyclic loadings will also be discussed.
Material used and test programs are listed in Table 1. A wide variation of testings were
performed on Toyoura Sand. For the other sands, only one case of testing, for air-dry
samples prepared by the spooning and tapping method and with the confining pressure of
1. 0 kg/cm 2 , was conducted.
DEFINITION OF SHEAR MODULUS AND SHEAR STRAIN
IN THE TORSIONAL SHEAR DEVICE
In the torsional shear tests, it is necessary to define shear stress and shear strain, because
the distributions of torsional shear stresses and shear strains on a cross section of a hollow
cylindrical sample are not uniform when torsionally sheared (Ishihara and Li, 1972).
Therefore, in this study, the torsional shear stress -r: was defined as

't='tav =A
s ( 1)

where -r: av means the average shear stress on a cross section of a sample. S in Eq. (1) is
the total magnitude of shear stress defined as
S= (n -r:r·27'r·dr ( 2)
Jri
in which 7:'r is the shear stress at the radius r from the axis of the sample and r 1 and r 2
denote the inside radius and the outside radius of the sample, respectively. Furthermore,
A in Eq. (1) is the net area of the cross section of the sample, given by
A=7'(r~-ri) ( 3)

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On the other hand, the torque T which is applied to the axis given by

( 4)

-is measured. There could be two extreme states in respect of deformation properties of
soils, one is the perfectly linear elastic state and the other is the perfectly plastic state.
In the perfectly linear elastic state, shear stress Tr is proportional to the radius r. In this
·case, from Eqs. (2) and (4) the value of S; Se is given by

(5)

From Eqs. (1), (3) and (5), the average shear stress at the perfectly linear elastic state
is obtained as
S 4 d-d T ( 6)
Tav.= A= 37r (d-ri) (d-d)
. In the perfectly plastic case, shear stress is identical over the cross section of the sample
.and given by
(7)
in which "C'avp represents the shear stress in the perfectly plastic case. From Eqs. (4), (5)
.and (7), the value of S is obtained as
2 2
3
S-- r2-r1 T (8)
- 2 r~-d
Eventually, the average shear stress in the perfectly plastic state is obtained as

Tavp=A=-
s 3 1
T ( 9)
3
2 7r r2-r13
In this study, the approximate values of r 1 and r 2 are 3. 0 cm and 5. 0 cm, respectively.
With these values, Tav, and Tavp are given by
'Z"av,=0. 00478 T} (10)
'Z"avp=O. 00487 T
Since the difference between these two values is small, the mean value of the two values
was defined as shear stress for the entire range of shear strain, i. e. r = 10- 4,,_.10- 2 as
'Z"av,+'Z"avv
r----- (11)
2
The shear strain may be proportional to the distance from the center in a given plane sec-
tion perpendicular to the axis. There£ ore, m this study, the shear strain r can be defined
.as

(12)

In equation (12), r av is the average shear strain, (} is the an angle of distorsion in radian
.and H is the height of the sample.
In determining values of T and r from Eqs. (11) and (12), values of T and () were read
·off from their recorded time histories. Secant shear moduli G were defined as
G=-1!_1 (13)
Ir I
in which i'r'! and \r\ means the amplitudes of shear stress -r and shear strain r in each
loading cycle, respectively.
Dampings were obtained from hysteresis loops of shear stress and shear strain as shown
in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 shows typical recorded hysteresis loops. In this figure, N denotes the

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 SHEAR MODULI OF SANDS 45

number of cyclic loadings for a given cyclic shear stress amplitude.

SHEAR MODULUS OF TOYOURA SAND

G/G*-..r Relationship
From resonant-column tests on fifteen clean sands, Iwasaki and Tatsuoka (1977) found
that shear moduli of clean sands at shear strains of r=l0- 6 , 10- 5 and 10- 4 can be approx-
imately represented by

Toyoura Sand P~ 0. 25 kg/cmz

I
Ga!Gr;;,J.O
1.01---------1---------'"-""----- G* = 700 ! zi1:e- eJ2 Po.s
~0...:.-
0~
p= + (0Qt2Gr l

eo P )o- IG* p · kg/cm 2 l

lkg/crn2 J

_\_~II
• '

l'" " "' -

0 0.68

0.5
0
A.
0.69
0.68
-<>- o. 70
-<:r 0.66
mil}
0 236
Air - Dry
Saturated
CoOm" To<" - - -

• 0.67 0 245 • Air - Dr Y } Torsional Shear Tests '

--- 0.62 0 245 • Saturated IN= 10th J i '*"

---
l Samples were prepared by Spooning and Topping J
ti . . . ............_
........._..

'
o1~0-76_ _.__ __,__ _10~-s=----'---'---~10--4--"-----'--~10~-,--L..--......-l.----110-2

Single A mplilude Shear Strain I

Fig. 5. G/G* versus r relationship of Toyoura sand (p=0.25kg/cm 2)

-0- A r
l,S r---r-:::A:::-.'!-=::=-'-tr'..W.~,..-0'---,--C-0 --.----:1---,-----,---,.1--,----,---.,

:~~-
•-0-
0

~
Toyouro S~nd
<Ya!O"r ~ 1.0
pu 0.5 kglcm'

·~ 2
1.0 !---------'-------- I ~ ------ G*: 700 ~ P0.5

LEGEN~ I l\_-. p=+(()0 ~;~rl

*......
(.!) eo tkgfcm 2 l "\._. IG~p; kg/cm2J
(.!)
c 0.68 0.521 } ....
0 0.69 0.459 Air - Dry l
0.5
/j. 0.68
0.66
g. ~~~ } ~Resonant-Column Tests _________....,,.__.,__ _ _ _ _ _ _
-0-
-6- 0.70
O. 53 0 Saturated J
.....•
0.70 0. 5 15 Air - Dry l
0.64 O. 5 1O } r Torsional Shear Tests
...... 0.68
O.
523
· Saturated J (N ~10th)
I Samples were Prepared by Spooning and Tapping J

10-4

Single Amplitude Shear Strain y

Fig. 6. G/G* versus r relationship of Toyoura sand(p=0.5kg/cm2)

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46 IWASAKI ET AL.

G=900 (2.17-e)2 po.40 (at r=IQ-6) (14)

l+e
G=850 (2. i::e)2 po.44 (at r=10-s) (15)

and G=700 (2.17-e)2 po.so (at r=l0-4) (16)

l+e
where G is the shear modulus in kg/cm 2 , e is the void ratio and p is the mean principal
stress in kg/cm 2 • Eq. (16) was originally established by Hardin and Richart (1963) for
round-grained Ottawa sands (e<O. 80) and for shear strains of 10- 4 or less. It seems im-
portant to compare shear moduli by resonant-column tests with those by torsional shear

Toyoura Sand pc::: 1.0 kg/cm 2

0-o 10-, "" 1.0

2
p G*=700~
I+ e ?
0· 5
eo lkg/cm 2 1
0.69 i.073 I - I
0 - 3 100 +2CJ,)
6 0.68 I. 0 2 4 ~
Air-Dry} Spooning
D 0.6 7 I. 0 I 8 J
~.,_
-&-
0.66
0.70
I. 02 6
I. 0 24
~ Saturated
.'
Tap~ing Resonant -
Column Tests
·~ 0.8 I I. 0 I 3 ' Air - Ory· Raining
1
4- 0.8 0 I. 0 I 0 ,
0.5 • 0. 68 I. 0 8 5 ., Air - Dry ' S .
4 0. 7 I I. 0 5 0 ; f p~ning
... 0.62 I. 0 4 9 • Saturated j Tapping
0.5 7 I. 022 '1
I. 027 ~ Sa'.uroted • Spooning
Tors;onal Shear Tests
...... 0. 73
IN= !0th I
....... 0. 75 I. 0 13 .1
' 0.81 I. 0 2 3 .I Air - Dry Raining
... 0. 73 I. 03 2 )

Single Amplitude Shear Strain y

Fig. 7. G/G* versus r relationship of Toroura sand (p=l.0kg/cm 2)

I.Sr-------------·---------------...-------.
I
I

o o o o o I Toyoura Sand pz 2.0 kg/cm 2

D ....... ....,_

-0- -0- f {j 0-6~ o I

I -o- ---... ,.. !
I ..f1a0 'o:"-l;! ...... 00 IO"r = 1.0
: t:.•,~ 2
!.O ···--~----··-----··-···---------~ ·-"-::o:~+- - ---- G* = 700 (2j~7;e l po.s

LEGEND
•-0-'-... ..-
'-...
IP=
·
+( 00+ 2CTr)
*--..
<.9
P
-'\.'\. i*
,rG, p; kg/cm l
2

<;.!) {kg/cm2} .__

Cl 0.67
2.0151 ~--;
~:g~~
0.69
0.5
0
0,68 JAir - Dry Resonant - Column Tests· - - - - - • - - -
-<>- 0.68 2. 0 I 5 • Saturated
•
.....
0. 6 7
0.62
2. 029 . Air - Dry
2.032} Saturated Torsional Shear Tests 1
--- 0. 5 9 2.026 IN°IOthl ~ -. .......,

( Samples were prepared by Spooning and Topping)

Single A mp lit ude Shear Strain y

Fig. 8. G/G* versus r relationship of Toyoura sand (p=2.0kg/cm 2 )

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 SHEAR MODULI OF SANDS 47

tests under the identical conditions of void ratios, confining pressures and shear strains.
As both of resonant-column tests and torsional shear tests can give shear moduli at shear
strain of 10- 4 , both results from these two tests were compared with the shear moduli
,estimated by Eq. (16). Data from the two tests were plotted in Figs. 5 through 8 where
G/G* versus r relationships are presented. In the figures, G is the measured shear modulus
and G* is obtained by substituting void ratio e and confining · pressure p into Eq. (16).
The values of e and p were measured when shear modulus G was measured for each cyclic
loading at each stage. By this procedure, effects of changes in void ratios and confining
pressures on shear moduli can be eliminated in each of Figs. 5 through 8. It is seen from
Figs. 5 through 8 that at shear strains of around 10- 4 , shear moduli by resonant-column
tests agree well with those by torsional shear tests evaluated at the 10th cyclic loading for
.confining pressures ranging 0. 25 to 2. 0 kg/cm 2 • Furthermore, it is seen from these figures
that the methods of sample preparation adopted in this investigation have little effects on
shear modulus of Toyoura sand for both resonant-column tests and torsional shear tests.
However, additional studies are necessary to obtain more general conclusions in this respect.
It is also seen that consecutive values of shear moduli between r = 10- 6 and 10- 2 can be
obtained using both of the resonant-columun apparatus and the torsional shear device.
It may be induced from the test results shown in Figs. 5 through 8 that for shear strain
of 10- 4 or less the effects of strain rate and repeated loading on shear modulus of clean
sands are rather small, because both of strain rate and number of repetitions of loading in
resonant-column tests are about 500 to 1, 000 times as many as those in torsional shear
tests. However, with increasing shear strain amplitude the effects of repeated loadings on
shear modulus get -larger as discussed later. It is also seen from these figures that the
G/G*-values of saturated samples are slightly less than those of air-dry samples in the case
of resonant-column tests. The difference is rather small.

Shear Modulus and Void Ratio

It is noteworthy that in Figs. 5 through 8 the effect of void ratio on G/G*~r relation-
ship is not significant. Fig. 9 shows the relationship between shear modulus for p=l. 0
kg/cm 2 and void ratio at different shear strain levels. In obtaining shear moduli for p=l. 0
kg/cm 2 from the data of tests where confining pressure p was slightly different from 1. 0 kg/
cm 2 , measured shear moduli were divided by p 0 • 5 • This correction was 4 % at the largest .
.Solid curves in Fig. 9 represent shear moduli which are proportional to a function (2.17-
.e)2/ (1 +e). It is seen from Fig. 9 that the change 10.000-------.-----.----,-----.
in shear moduli due to the change in void ratio Air - Dry } 0 rNote ; Solid curves CD1 to ,,,
R. c. tests ~
~
• Soturoled
,can be evaluated by the function (2.17-e) 2 /(l+e) ~ 5.000 j represent the function ;
A Air - Ory } r. s. tests I
for a wide range of shear strain (r = 10- 6 to 3 X ~
A Saturated IN= 10th I 1 ( 2.17 - e )2

10-s). I+ e

Shear Modulus and Mean Principal Stress ii

c. 1,000 -
To evaluate the effect of confining pressures on
shear moduli, shear moduli G divided by (2. 17- (!) 500
.e) 2 / (1 + e) were plotted as functions of p as shown .,,
"'
in Figs. 10 and 11. This is to eliminate the effects ~E
.of void ratios on shear moduli. The values of G ::;: 200
-'=
in these figures were read off from G,.._,r curves as (/')

:shown in Fig. 4. It may be seen in Figs. 10 and

11 that for a wide range of shear strain, there are Void Rat10 e
linear relationships between log G and log p for Fig. 9. G versus e relationship of
'both of air-dry and saturated Toyoura Sands. Toyoura sand

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48 IWASAKI ET AL.

Table. 2. List of other investigations

No.j Sand Void

Ratio
Device Sample I N*) j*;~/O'r I References

1 I Dry Ottawa
I Dense
No. 20-30
Resonant- Solid - 1.0
Dry Crushed I Column (RC) Cylinder Hardin and Richart (1963)
I
2 Quartz, I Dense
No. 20-30
I

31 ~~: gJ~~;J'a, I 0. 55 I RC(Drnevich) I ~;ll~der I - 11. 0 I Drnevich and Richart (1970)

4 0.46
- - Dry Ottawa,
No. 20-30
,, ,, - 1. 0 Drnevich (1967)
5 0.62

6 \ Dry Toyoura \ 0. 64 \ RC Hollow

Cylinder I - \ 1. 0 \ Shibata and Tai (1976)

7 0.66 RC(Drnevich)
--
8 0.64 RC(Hardin)
--
9 Dry Reid- 0.65 RC (Hall) Solid Skoglund, Marcuson and
- - Bedford-Model Cylinder - 1.0
Cunny (1976)
RC(Shannon
10 Sand 0.65 and Wilson)
--
11 I
0.55 RC(CRREL)

121 0.65 RC(WES)

13
I Clean Dry Sand I 0. 57 I Torsional ShearI Cylinder
Hollow I 10th j 1. 0 I Hardin and Drnevich(1972a)
14 Dry Ottawa 0.55
2nd 1.0 Sherif and Ishibashi (1976)
15
Dry Seward-
Park 0.66, 77 " "
16 0.88 lOOth Oh-Oka (1974)
- - Dry Niigata --
Hollow
17 0.76 Ring Torsion
Cylinder - PS Oh-Oka and Y oshimi (1971)
--
18 Dry Toyoura 0. 71 10th Yoshimi et al. (1976)

19 0.83
--
Dry Silica Sand 0. 71 NG I-Simple Circular
20 No. 20 Shear 10th PS Silver and Seed (1971)
--
21 0. 78

0.56 \ Simple Shear Box I - I PS \ Sugimoto et al. (1974)

23 [ Dry Toyoura 0. 71 [ Simple Shear Circular PS [ Hara et al. (1976)

Hollow
24 j 15 Clean Sands \ Cylinder l - I 1. 0 I Iwasaki and Tatsuoka (1977)
*) Number of Cyclic Loading (- ; unknown)
**> PS ; Plane Strain Condition

This means that shear moduli for r and p of interest can be represented by

{G} r,p =K(r) (2.17-e)2

l+e p
m<n (17)

in which K (r) is a function of shear strain and m (r) is the exponent of p which is also
a function of shear strain. Exponents m(r) of Toyoura Sands derived from Figs. 10 and

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 SHEAR MODULI OF SANDS 49

2.000....----...---------,----.
Toyoura Sand (Saturated l
1,000,...
e=0.59-0.75 ro.-.::-"'"~
~a:i~;.....-

_......;::;;~e----::a' /;/
;:;- .500>- 1~~6/;~::--~:~:r/
E 10-s...- ~-/ / /
~ 1 0 · 4 ? // " / . . •

N;-1
~ Q.>
200 2x10·4
Sx10· 4/
_/'f//-· (
/•
~ .:_ 100 /•/(: LEGEND
-.... 10-3 {o a 1:> R.C. Tests -

<..? so • .t. • " • • T.S. Tests

/ (N=IO!hl
3x10" 3
0Q/{)r:::1.0 ' tcrr::::l.O
00
20'---~'--_.... _ _...__,_~--~
I
0.1 0.2 0.5 I 2
0.2 0.5 1 2 2
Mean Principal Stress, p ( kg/cm 2 ) Mean Principal Stress, p (kg/cm l

. 10•
F 1g. GI (2.17-e)2
l+e versus p re I atlons
. h"1p . 11 •
F ig. GI (2.17-e)2
l+e versus p re I atlons
. h"1p

of air-dry Toyoura sand of saturated Toyoura sand

1.0 .------------.----,----,r-----r---.----.----.--.....---....---.

G = Kpm(n 13 3 °
13 14
, ~9
... - -
.
Oo 1 ~ •

n 3 /~ ~
(Clean Sands ) 13 o 19ae/~4 '
o
; 0 - ~· 5 020
E o.s ,___ _ _ _ _ _ _ ;~__L_!___g3 j~~--0_20_-+1---------i

r
!-_ 0 ~ ~
6
20 I LEGEND
5
~ 3
0
101r:1.s,10· 11 THIS i
INVESTIGATION {• S~turated} TorsionalTests
Shear
( Toyouro Sand I • Air - Dry ( N =10th I
I
NOTE : Hollow circles represent data by other investigations.
...... Saturated}
.._ Air - Ory
Resonant-
Column Tests
See Tobie; 2 for legend. ,
1 I
0 10·6 10 4 10-2

Single Amplitude Shear Strain i'

Fig. 12. m (r) versus r relationship of clean sands

11 are shown in Fig. 12 as a function of shear strains. A similar representation was.

firstly indicated by Silver and Seed (1971). The values of exponents m(r) obtained by
other investigators are also indicated by hollow circles in Fig. 12. Numbers beside hollow
circles correspond to those in Table 2 in which shear tests on clean sands utilizing torsional
resonant-column devices, torsional shear devices, ring torsion devices, and simple shear
devices are listed. It is seen from Fig. 12 that with increasing shear strain amplitude the
exponent m(T) increases from about 0. 4 at the shear strain of around 10- 6 or less to 0. 9
at the shear strain of around 5xrn-s.

A SIMPLIFIED REPRESENTATION OF STRAIN-DEPENDENCY

IN SHEAR MODULI OF SANDS

G/ {G}y=l0-6,......,r Relationship for Toyoura Sand

From Eq. (17), shear modulus for Toyoura Sand at the shear strain of 10- 6 is represented
by

(18)

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:.50 l WAS AKI ET AL.

1.or.....,.-11111~~~;::::r::::::"-i--.---,--r--.-----,-1
P=2.0 kg/cm2 I
. l.Okg/cm2 ([G/{G}r•10- 6JP'l.Okglcm')
·· 0.5 kg/c~

Experiments

[GI {GJr=10-6Jp = [G/(G)o=I0-6]P=l.Okg/cm2

x pm(l'J-m(r=10-GJ

l I
Toyoura Sand. CTalO"; =1.0, N= 10th
i

Single Amplitude Shear Strain /

Fig. 13. G/ {G} r=io-6 versus r relationship of ..tToyoura sand

Toyoura Sand
p = 1.0 kg/cm 2
I

(.!) 0.5 _ .-·- - - - - - ·-

5th Cyclic Loading · ·

2nd Cyclic Loading

I

I
Single Amplitude Shear Strain y
Fig. 14. Effects of repeated loading on G/ {G} r=I0-6~r relationship
of Toyoura sand

From Eqs. (17) and (18), the ratio of shear modulus at an arbitrary shear strain r to
the shear modulus at r = 10- 6 is derived as

_!}_ J
=___!5_~-~pmCr)-mCr=I0-6)
[ {G L=10-6 v K(r= 10 ) (19)

For p=l. 0 kg/cm2, Eq. (19) becomes

[{g} r=10-Jp=1.0kg/cm2 - K (~~~~- 6 ) (20)

From Eqs. (19) and (20), a simple equation is derived between p=O. 25 kg/cm 2 and 2. 0
kg/cm 2 as

[ _!!__ J
-[_!!__
{G} r=10-6 p - { G} r=10-6
J p=t.Okg/cm2
. pmm-m<r=10-&) (21)

The value of [G/ {G} r=to-s]p=t.Okg/cm2 at a shear strain of interest was obtained from Fig. 7
by dividing G/G*-values at the shear strain by G/G*-value at the shear strain of 10- 6 •
Thick solid curve in Fig. 13 is the measured relationship between G/ {G} r=io-6 for P= 1. 0
kg/cm 2 and shear strain amplitude r. Dotted curves in Fig. 13 represent G/ {G} r=io-6 ,...._,, r
relationships for P=O. 25, 0. 5 and 2. 0 kg/cm 2 which were obtained from solid curves shown
in Figs. 5, 6 and 8 by dividing G/G*-values at arbitrary shear strains r by G/G*-values at
r = 10- 6• Thin solid curves in Fig. 13 represent G/ {Glr=io-s,....._,r relationships which were
obtained from Eq. (21) by substituting measured exponents m(r) of Toyoura Sand (Fig.

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 SHEAR MODULI OF SANDS 51

12) and the measured value of [G/ {Glr=i0-:6]p=I.Okg/cm2 represented by a thick solid curve in
Fig. 13 into Eq. (21). As understood fr~m Fig. 13, when G/ {G} r=I0-6 ,..._, r relationship
for P= 1. 0 kg/cm 2 and (m (r) -m (r = 10- 6 ) ) ,..;_,r relationship are established, Eq. (21) can be
.a convenien.t equation to evaluate the G/ {G} r=io-s,_,r relationship for a confining pressure p
other than :.1. 0 kg/cm 2• Fig. 14 shows the effects of the number of cyclic loadings on
·G/ {G} r=io-6,...;,r relationships of Toyoura Sand in the case of P= 1. 0 kg/cm 2 • The curves for
the 2nd and the 5th cyclic loadings in Fig. 14 were obtained from G/G*,..._,r plottings of
measured shear moduli as shown in Figs. 5 through 8. Using these curves and Eq. (21),
the value of G/ {GL=io-s for values of p and r of interest may be evaluated for an arbitrary
:number of cyclic loading between two and ten.

'G/ {G} r=10-6,_,r Relationship for Various Sands

Before establishing G/ {G} r=io-s'"-'r relationship for various sands, measured strain-depend-
,ency in clean sands were summarized. In Fig. 15 shown are G/G*,.._,r relationships for p
·of around 1. 0 kg/cm 2 which were obtained by various investigators. The reason why
2 7 2
_measured shear moduli were divided by G*=700 ( . -e) p 0 • 5 in Fig. 15 is that in this
.
i+e
way shear moduli by different methods can be compared for the identical values of void ratio
.and confining pressure. In Fig. 15 also presented is the G/G*,..._,r relationship for p=l. 0
kg/cm 2 for iBannosu Sand A which was obtained by the procedures as described in Fig. 7.
A result fo~ Bannosu Sand A which includes a small amount of fine soils is shown in Fig.
15 for a comparison. It may be seen From Fig. 15 that when limited to the data by tor·
:Siona! resonant-column tests and torsional shear tests (No. 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16, 17, 18 and 24), the scatterings among the data might be considered to be rather small in
·viewing differences of materials, strain rate, number of cyclic loadings, sample shapes
.and the other unknown factors. On the other hand, the difference between these data and
those by simple shear tests (No. 21, 22 and 23) may be due to the differences in the fashion
·of shear deformations in samples and consolidation stress conditions. Accordingly, it may
be concluded that resonant-column tests and torsional shear tests can give consistent results.
In Fig. 16 shown are measured relationships between G/ {G} r=I0-6 and r for P= 1. 0 kg/cm 2
-0f medium dense Bannosu Sands. These curves were plotted by the procedures similar to

i.s-----------------r-------~-------,

THIS INVESIGATION ~ -~~-

~Sand, ~j
~
I
----------_!
~-~----
o
P=l.Okg/cm2J
1/
:I
+
P= (
Cleon
z =
L-~-~~--~-------~
Sands
Oj + 03 J 1.0 kg/cm2

~
~ i} f~l8x/0-T
1;-_ -- -------LEGE Nll __ '._ ., ____
1·--:::::~ l
_:_':::-:-.,.~,K~""-
0

-- THIS
'

IN~ESIGATION - ------
':" a.>
r-- +
: + +~~'
•
~• ~"""~·Ban- nosu 0
Sand A, P= 1.0 kg/cm2 J
;::-; _ ,-see Tobie 2 for Legend I ~'~~ 0 / '
-
o <I
3 11141
6 II 0 I
•
r o 13 I 0 90 I
I " ~~
'.",:@
I•+ I
1

o 7 10701 14 11401 x',

!'-- e 7 11 401 1 15 11 401 4 ', ,
-._ ... s 10.701 I., 16' 10.621 ,~ ',, o
~
~_'.)
O.S : i :~.m : J~: mi~------ - :
-10 10. 701 + 22• 10.637) !
~~6t~,
"'',<.~~-·
- - - - ---------
------.:.c•,,..
'- -ro 11.401 o 23• 11.121 . .. " o
<.::> +II 10 70I 11 0 1• (A"roge Vol_ues by Reso_nont-Column) 1 ~
+ 11 11 : 401 .. 24 ' Tests on Fifteen Cleon, Sonds - +# ~,
,.,_ 12 10.701 IP; kqicm 2 1 " ' +
1., 12 11.401 '~ I a
IP: kg/cm 2 1

Single Amplitude Shear Strain (

Fig. 15. G/G* versus r relationship of various clean sands

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52 IWASAKI ET AL.

Ban-nosu Sands (Air-Dry)

Medium Dense
p =l.O kg /cm 2
"'C>
I
Sam pies were ma de
~ by Spooning and
<:; 0. 5 -RC____ST __ _
...._ Topping

f \1
4
A ! e0 = 0.83

l
o • Bon-nosu Sand 0. 9 7 I \..."} 1
<.!)
.c. ... B ! e0 = 0. 69 0. 7 5 J
~ ~~
""-+~
1
v.,. C I e0 = 0.76 0. 79 I R.C. Tests
0
<> •
I>
•

..
15 ! e0 = 0. 73
18 fe 0 = 0.76
211eo=0.74
0.68 l
0 741
0.73)
l• . _ Yl)

~· ..JT.S.Tests !N=IOthll
- ..""'
~
......__.,,

10- 5 5 10- 4 2 I0-3

Single Amplitude Shear Strain y

Fig. 16. G/ {G} r=10-6 versus r relationship of Ban-nosu sands

"''o • Toyoura Sand (from Fig. 7 J

-E. 0.5 & Ban-nosu Sands ! from Fig. 16 l*
'f' Model -Test Sand <Air.- Dry, e0 = 0.75 J*
(.9
...._ o Jrumo Sand {Air - Dry , eo =0.58 I*'
<.!) A Kinjo Sand l (Air- Dry, e0 = 0.75 J*
v Kinjo Sand 2 (Air- Dry. e0 = 0.95 J*
o Ohgi - Shimo Sand (Air- Dry, eo = 0.49 J*
• Monterey Sand No.O {Air Dry, eo:: 0.56 J*
*
Sample were prepared by Spooning and Tapping.
5 io-4 2 5

Single Amplitude Shear Strain Y

Fig. 17. Average G/ {G} r=io-6 versus r relationship of sands tested

those shown in Figs. 7 and 13. As indicated in Table 1, these sands have nonuniform
gradings and include fine soils to some extent. The G/ {G} r=t0-6 versus r relationships of
the whole sands tested are shown in Fig. 17. As seen in Fig. 17, no significant differences.
were found among G/ {G} r=io-6 relationships of these sands. It should be noted, however,
that shear moduli of these sands are not identical for the identical values of shear strain
amplitude r, void ratio e and confining pressure p. Iwasaki and Tatsuoka (1977) found
that shear moduli of disturbed sands for the identical values of r, e and p, in general,
decrease with the increases in uniformity coefficients and contents of fine soils. Further··
more, the index B was defined to represent the relative largeness of shear moduli for the
identical values of r, e and p. Using this index, shear moduli of sands can be represented_
by
G=A(r). B· (2.17-e)2 pm<r> (22)
l+e
where A (r) and m (r) are functions only of shear strain and B is not a function of shear
strain but is a characteristic value for each sand. A way to obtain the value of B for-
each sand is reported in the previous paper (Iwasaki and Tatsuoka, 1977). Fig. 18 shows
the relationship between the values of G/{G}r=io-6 at r=l0- 4, 5x10-4, 10-s and 3x10-s and
the index B for sands tested for P= 1. 0 kg/cm 2• The values of G/ {G} r=rn-s were obtained
from the measured relationship between G/ {G} r=io-6 and r for each sand. Fig. 18 suggests.
that the value of G/ {G} r=io-s for each value of r is almost constant for a wide range of B~

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 SHEAR MODULI OF SANDS 53

]t may be derived from the result shown in

Fig. 18 that an average curve of G/ {G} r=io-6 'P = 1.0 kg /cm 2
- r relationship shown in Fig. 17 can be ... "'
(: I0-4 --·.-·~vo-•:"--"'"--~-
·established for a wide variety of sands for ~

& Tayaura Sand

practical engineering purposes. • Model -Test Sand
"''o o Bon - nosu Sand A
Seed and Idriss (1970) established an av- -~0.5
A
a C
B

0erage G/ {G} r=io-s,.._,r relationship for sand ~ v 15

.....
<.!)
0 18
on the basis of various data presented by <l "
• !ruma Sand
21

., Ohgi -Simo Sand

·-0ther investigators. Furthermore, it was " + Kinjo Sand I
r= 3, 10-3--••"-;8-"v.,..
0 -=-•---•-
shown by Hardin and Drnevich (1972 a, 0 • Ki njo Sand 2
"' Monterey Sand No.0
1972 b) that the shape of the strain-depend- O.OL--0,,.J.,.5,_------:'LO~----'.__-----'

·ency of shear modulus for a particular soil =[G/fAveroge value of G of clean sands}]
·can be adequately represented by a hyper- 8 for identical void ratio
:bolic curve. This is defined by the equation
Fig. 18. G/ {G} r=10-& versus B relationship
1 of sands tested
G/Gmax (23)

in which G is shear modulus at any shear strain r, Gmax is the value of G at r=O, and
r, is the reference shearing strain (r,=Tmax/Gmax). For clean sands, Tmax is given by

Tmax= [{( l+K°) ·sin¢ - 1-K° }2 ( -iiv

)2]112(24)
2 2
in which K 0 is the coefficient of earth pressure at rest and iJv is the effective vertical stress.
·Gmax can be obtained from in situ seismic surveys or laboratory soil tests. For round-
.grained clean sands Gmax is given by Eq. (16). In the following Eq. (16) is used to
obtain Gmax in Eq. (23). Shibata and Soelarno (1975) proposed a more simplified equation
than Eq. (23) as

(25)

Furthermore, Sherif and Ishibashi (1976) proposed a different equation on the basis of
results by their own torsional shear tests with hollow cylindrical samples as
p )1167r+0.5 }
G=2.8¢ ( 0.070307 ·40·(0.205)r/S (for r<3x1Q-4)
(26)
p
G=2.8¢ ( 0.070307
)0.85 ·(lOOr)-o.6 (for r~3x10-')

::; Seed and Idriss

~ o.st----------L_____
..::
~ I
(!)

p = 1.0 kg/cm 2

10-<1

Single Amplitude Shear Strain Y

Fig. 19. Comparison among G/ {G} r=io-r'"'r relationships

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54 IWASAKI ET AL.

In Eq. (26) p is represented in kg/cm 2 and r is represented in rad./rad. Note that the·
notations used in Eq. (26) are different from those in the original paper. Fig. 19 shows
a comparison of strain-dependency of shear modulus for P= 1. 0 kg/cm 2 among the average·
curve in Fig. 17, the average curve by Seed and Idriss and the other proposed relation-
ships, Eqs. (23), (25) and (26). In Eq. (23), the values of e, ¢ and K 0 should be deter-
mined to obtain a particular relationship between G/Gmax and r for p= 1. 0 kg/cm 2 • To·
depict the curve in Fig. 19 from Eq. (23), e=0.65, ¢=30° and K 0 =0.6 were assumed as
standard values. It may be seen that the differences among four curves is rather smaU
except the curve by Shibata and Soelarno.

Exponent m(r),.._,r Relationship

In evaluating the reduction in G with increasing shear strain amplitude with use of Eq ..
(21), another coefficient m(r) is necessitated. In addition to the data shown in Fig. 12,
the values of m(r) at r=l0- 6 , 10- 5 and 10- 4 which were obtained for fifteen clean sands.
are also plotted in Fig. 20. Properties of these clean sands are reported elsewhere (Iwasaki
and Tatsuoka, 1977). A solid curve in Fig. 20 represents the average curve of m(r) for
the whole data shown in Fig. 20. Furthermore, the values of m(r)-m(I0- 6) are shown
in Fig. 21. Note that in deriving the G/{G} r=1o-6, the values of m (r) -m (10- 6) are needed.
The value of m(r)-m(l0- 6 ) which is obtained from the average curve in Fig. 20 was
compared with those which are derived from Eqs. (23), (25) and (26). Two black circles
in the figure represent the average values of m(r)-m(r=l0- 6 ) at r=10- 5 and r=10- 4
which were obtained by resonant-column tests on 33 non-clean sands. Properties of these:
sands were also presented in the previous paper (Iwasaki and Tatsuoka, 1977). Fig. 21
indicates that the difference among black circles and these curves is rather small and that
differences among other curves except the curve by Sherif and Ishibashi is also rather small..

I.Or----.,.----.,...-----,-----,-------,-----.------,--~--~~

Clean Sands

Single Amplitude Shear Strain y

Fig. 20. m (r) ,....,r relationship

0 . 6 , - - - - , - - - , - - - - , - - - . , - - - - , - - - - . - - - - - , - - - - - , - , - - , - ----.-----~
1

. ~o She!if and Ishibashi '· I

~ 0.41------H-or-di-n-and Drn-ev-ich (;-=o-.6-5, ~~,if~;;';Q;;~--/-_-__::-~\-_-__-_-.
~ 0.2 • Average Value. of i 3:Jl____________ j
,,./
, /~-~---l--=-S~iboto
' '
and Soelor~
E non-clean son~ ~- From Ave:rage Curve in Fig.20

o10L_6~:;;;;~~~~~10~~5~~-~·-~-~-§--§-~===li0_:4::~-~--'---10'.__,:_---"-~~~-'--J10-1:
'Single· Amplitude Shear. Strain y

Fig. 21. Comparison am~ng m (r) -m Cr= 10- 5) ,....,r relationships

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 SHEAR MODULI OF SANDS 55

When earthquake response analyses are performed for a particular ground, it is desirable
to conduct laboratory tests to evaluate G/ {G} r=to-s or G/Gmax,.._.r relationship for each
soil layer. However, this procedure is, in general, rather laborious and sometimes difficult.
When such laboratory tests cannot be performed, Eq. (21) may be adopted for sand layers
for preliminary studies, with the average curve of G/ {G} r,,,, 10-s for P=l. 0 kg/cm 2 shown in
Fig. 17 and the average curve of m(r) shown in Fig. 20 being utilized.

CONCLUSIONS
The test results and the analyses presented show that by combining resonant-column tests
and torsional shear tests using hollow cylindrical samples, consecutive values of shear
moduli of sands for shear strain amplitude ranging r = 10-s to 10- 2 can be evaluated.
On the basis of the results by resonant-column tests and torsional shear tests on various
sands, a simplified equation (Eq. (21)) was proposed to represent reduction in G with
increasing shear strain amplitude for sands. This equation with the average curves shown m
Figs.17 and 20 may be available in conducting earthquake response analyses.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authers wish to express their appreciations to Mr. Seiichi Yoshida of Ground
Vibration Section, the Public Works Research Institute for his helpful cooperations in
conducting a number of experiments.

NOTATION
e =void ratio
m(r) =exponent of mean principal stress in relation with shear modulus
P=; (O'a+20'r); mean principal stress
A(r) =a function of shear strain in relation with shear modulus
B=a parameter representing relative largeness of shear modulus
G=shear modulus
{G} r=io-s =shear modulus at r = 10-s
Grnax=shear modulus at r=O
2
2 7
G*=700 C . I -e) p 0 • 5 • the average shear modulus of clean sands at r=I0- 4
l+e '
N=number of cyclic loadings
r =single am pli tu de shear strain
-r: =shear stress
. . 1 ..JW
YJ= dampmg ratio= Zn- -W
O' a• O' r =axial and radial stresses

REFERENCES
1) Cunny, R. W. and Fry, Z. B. (1973): "Vibratory in situ and laboratory soil moduli compared,"
Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division, Proc. ASCE, Vol. 99, No. SM 12, pp.
1055-1076.
2) Drnevich, V. P. and Richart, F. E., Jr. (1970): "Dynamic prestraining of dry sand," J. SMFD,
Proc. ASCE, Vol. 96, No. SM 2, pp. 453-469.
3) Drnevich, V. P. (1967): "Effects of strain history on the dynamic properties of sand," Ph. D.
thesis in the University of Michigan.

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56 IWASAKI ET AL.

4) Hardin, B. 0. and Richart, F. E., Jr. (1963): "Elastic wave velocities in granular soils," J.
SMFD, Proc. ASCE, Vol. 89, No. SM 1, pp. 33-65.
5) Hardin, B. 0. and Drnevich, V. P. (1972 a): "Shear modulus and damping in soils: Measurement
and parameter effects," J. SMFD, Proc. ASCE, Vol. 98, No. SM 6, pp. 603-624.
6) Hardin, B. 0. and Drnevich, V. P. (1972 b): "Shear modulus and damping in soils: Design
equations and curves," J. SMFD, Proc. ASCE, Vol. 98, No. SM 7, pp. 667-692.
7) Hara, A. and Kiyota, Y. (1976): "Dynamic behaviors of sand in small and large strain levels,"
Proc. 11th Annual Meeting of Japanese Soc. Soil Mech. Found. Eng., pp. 331-334 (in Japanese).
8) Ishihara, K. and Li, S. (1972): "Liquefaction of saturated sand in triaxial torsion shear test,"
Soils and Foundations, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp.19-39.
9) Iwasaki, T. and Tatsuoka, F. (1977): "Dynamic soil properties with emphasis on comparison
of laboratory tests and field measurements," Proc. 6th World Conference on Earthquake Engi·
neering Vol. 6, pp. 153-158.
10) Iwasaki, T. and Tatsuoka, F. (1977): "Effects of grain size and grading on dynamic shear
moduli of sands," Soils and Foundations, Vol.17, No. 3, pp.19-35.
11) Kovacs, W. D., Seed, H.B. and Chan, C. C. (1971): "Dynamic moduli and damping ratios for a
soft clay," J. SMFD, Proc. ASCE, Vol. 97, No. SM 1, pp. 59-75.
12) Kuribayashi, E., Iwasaki, T. and Tatsuoka, F. (1975): "Effects of stress-strain conditions on
dynamic properties of sands," Proc. of Japanese Society of Civil Engineers, No. 242, pp. 105-114.
13) Oh-Oka, H. and Y oshimi, Y. (1971): "On shear modulus of sand," Proc. 6 th Annual Meeting
of Japanese Soc. Soil Mech. Found. Eng., pp. 245-248 (in Japanese).
14) Oh-Oka, H. (1974): "Study on liquefaction of saturated sand," The Thesis of Dr. of Eng. in
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(Received June 14, 1977)

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