In recent earthquakes, the occurrence of liquefaction in silty soils has attracted attention to the influence of fines content. This problem has been studied with reference to many criteria; nevertheless, the response is dependent on the parameter used for comparison, which has led to divergent conclusions. In this regard, this work presents a comprehensive study on the effect of fines content and a new comparison approach for laboratory testing. A series of torsional shear tests was conducted on silty sand retrieved from Tokyo Bay after the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake. Samples were formed with the same compaction energy to simulate natural conditions. Fines content was varied from 0 to 80% ; monotonic and cyclic tests were conducted. Shear-strain curves and effective stress paths are compared. Moreover, the correlation between volume compressibility and SPT N-value is used for studying similar field conditions. Relevant conclusions regarding the role of fines content in the liquefaction resistance of sands are provided.
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