Determinations and Uses of Strain Distributions in Sand Samples

The determination of strain distributions in dense sand samples is described in this paper. An estimate of all the possible errors during the measurement of strains is also made. It is shown that the much cheaper photographic method can replace radiography under plane strain conditions as a means of recording strains. Detailed strain distributions allow the evaluation of shear apparatus performance, and the strain distributions obtained in the directional shear cell are found to be as uniform as samples tested in the triaxial cell with “frictionless” ends. Using these strain distribution data, the inhomogeneous deformation response to uniform stresses of the most uniform sand samples is revealed and discussed.