Behaviour of dry sand tested in a large triaxial apparatus

In this Paper the results from an extensive experimental study of the stress-strain behaviour of dry sand in triaxial compression tests are presented. The experiments were performed in a new triaxial apparatus for large specimens. Emphasis is given to sources of error such as end restraint, bifurcation and imperfection sensitivity. The behaviour at small and large strains is presented and the rigid granular model of sand, its practical significance and limitations are discussed. Dans cet article on presente les resultats d'une recherche experimentale sur le comportement rheologique du sable sec en compression triaxiale. L'appareil triaxial est d'un genre nouveau qui contient de tres grands echantillons. Une etude detaillee des erreurs de mesures dues au frottement des plaques, a la bifurcation et a l'influence des imperfections est faite. Le comportement rheologique est presente pour de petites et grandes deformations; le modele du sable avec grains rigides, sa signification pratique et ses limites seront...