Evaluatiion of instability phenomena in sands: plane strain versus triaxial compression conditions

摘要

Bifurcation phenomenon in sands is highly dependent on the loading condition. Experimental findings show that the failure of specimens subjected to plane strain loading condition is characterized by distinct shear bands accompanied by softening in the stress response depending on the specimen density and confining pressure. In contrast, the specimens in conventional triaxial compression experiments bulge uniformly in the vicinity of the peak stress and develop a complex multiple symmetrical radial shear bands at higher axial strain levels.