Small strain stiffness of salt-cemented granular media under low confinement

The mechanical behaviour of granular soils is affected by particle bonding including natural cementation. This study addresses a simple model of small strain stiffness and salt concentration based on the wave measurements of salt-cemented particulate media. Glass beads with a median diameter of D 50 = 0·5 mm are prepared in rectangular cells using the water-pluviated method in salt water with different concentrations. Piezo disc elements and bender elements embedded in the cell are used for the measurements of the compressional and shear waves. The relationships between the elastic wave velocities and salt concentration show an exponential function. The measured small strain stiffness matches well the predicted small strain stiffness based on the micromechanics of simple cubic monosized spherical particles. This study demonstrates that the salt concentration in a salt-cemented specimen can be evaluated by using elastic wave velocities.