Assessing the Dynamic Response of Sand Incorparating Expanded Glass Granules Through Resonant Column Test

Abstract

In contemporary geotechnical stabilization applications, there is a simultaneous drive to make applications as light and durable as possible while also preferring the utilization of waste products in soil improvement endeavors due to their dual merits of fostering environmental sustainability and conferring economic benefits. In this study, the use of expanded glass granules as a waste material was implemented to harmonize with this perspective, wherein reference sand and expanded glass granules were systematically mixed in varying proportions by mass and volume. Subsequently, the dynamic behavior of the mixture samples was rigorously assessed through a resonant column test between 0.001 - 0.1% shear strain amplitude and under various cell pressures. The variations in modulus reduction and initial shear modulus of the expanded glass granules added specimens were subjected to analysis, the shear modulus values of the samples mass-prepared (1, 2%) were obtained at least 12% and 21% higher than the reference sand, respectively. Similarly, the shear modulus values of the mixture sample prepared at 2.5% by volume were 20% higher than the reference sand at different effective pressures. The specimens prepared at 5% by volume demonstrate shear modulus values that were akin to those of the reference sand. The shear modulus values of the mixture samples prepared by volume (7.5, 10 and 15%) were found to be relatively lower than those of the reference sand. In the experimental study, it was discovered that the high angle of internal friction of the expanded glass granules exerts an influence on the variation in modulus reduction. According to the results of the experimental study, expanded glass granules show positive results in shallow geotechnical soil stabilization applications.