Discussion of 'Effect of Loading Mode on Strain Softening and Instability Behavior of Sand in Plane-Strain Tests'

摘要

The authors present interesting experimental results obtained from the plane-strain tests performed in their newly developed apparatus. The aim of their investigations was to discover the differences of the sand behavior tested either under a constant loading rate (LC mode) or at a constant deformation rate (DC mode). Similar investigations were performed earlier in the tri-axial apparatus, see Chu and Leong (2001). The authors conclude that the loading mode essentially affects the postpeak behavior of sand. The main difference is that the sand "strain softens" when tested in DC conditions, and is unstable in LC conditions.