Experimental Analysis of Shear Zone Patterns in Cohesionless for Earth Pressure Problems Using Particle Image Velocimetry

The evolution of shear zones in cohesionless sand for earth pressure problem of a retaining wall is experimentally investigated using a non-invasive method called particle image velocimetry. It is an optical technique for measuring surface displacements from successive digital images. Small scale laboratory tests are performed for active and passive cases of a rigid retaining wall subjected to horizontal translation, rotation about its toe and rotation about its top. Attention is focused on the effect of initial sand density on distribution of volumetric and deviatoric strain. The results for initially dense sand are qualitatively compared with corresponding ones obtained with X-rays at Cambridge University.