A long term resilient modulus rate dependent model for coarse fine mixtures geomaterials under freezing and thawing cyclic

Abstract

Abstract The cyclic loading frequency (f cyc) effects on the resilient modulus (M r) of freezing–thawing coarse–fine mixtures geomaterials (FTCFG) have always been a research hotspot. A series of long-term cyclic triaxial tests were conducted on FTCFG having different fines content (FC) under different number of freeze–thaw cycles (N FT) to investigate the effect of f cyc and deviator stress amplitude (q cyc) on the M r of FTCFG. The freezing–thawing cyclic was found to improve the M r of FTCFG. Additionally, M r of FTCFG shown an obviously rate-dependent characteristics. Then three kinetic effects (rate effect, piston effect, and fatigue effect) are discussed in systemically which are related to q cyc, f cyc and moisture holding capacity (w h). Finally, a rate dependent model of long-term resilient modulus was developed to predict FTCFG materials’ resilient moduli as a function of q cyc, f cyc and w h. The comparisons between the calculation and experimental results reveal that the present model describes the M r of FTCFG well.