Abstract: One-dimensional consolidation tests were carried out in a stress path triaxial to investigate the coefficient of lateral earth pressure K₀ of saturated Toyoura sand with different densities. Bender elements for shear wave measurement were installed in the triaxial device. The shear wave velocity of sand specimens can be measured under the K₀ stress state and then the small strain shear stiffness G₀ of Toyoura sand can be calculated. Results demonstrated that the value of K₀ decreases as the density of sand increases. Furthermore, the effects of effective mean confining pressure and density on shear modulus G₀ at small strain were also investigated. Parameters A and n in the empirical equation for predicting the G₀ of sand sample during the K₀ stress rate were determined. Moreover, the relationship between K₀ and G₀ was analyzed and it was found that K₀ decreases almost linearly as G₀ increases.

Key words: sand, triaxial test, density, lateral static earth pressure K₀, bender element, shear modulus at small strain