DILATION-INDUCED PORE FLUID CAVITATION IN SANDS

This paper describes an investigation of dilation-induced cavitation during undrained triaxial compression tests on fully saturated samples of dense sand. The authors present evidence that cavitation can occur spontaneously in a saturated sand during undrained shear. They demonstrate that the response of the sand sample changes from undrained to drained at the point where measurements indicate a pore pressure of minus one atmosphere. They also investigate the cavitation potential of the sand by testing at relatively high values of back pressure, and comment on the implications of cavitation in situations where rapid or undrained loading may occur.