Compression and strength of dense sand at high pressures and elevated temperatures

The paper examines the stress-strain behaviour of densely compacted sand tested at pressures up to 80 MPa in one-dimensional compression and 7.2 MPa confining pressure in triaxial tests. Tests were performed at temperatures up to 100degreesC. The testing relates to a proposal by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited to fill containers of waste nuclear fuel with a crushed quartz sand to provide additional stiffness. No significant effects of temperature were encountered in either isotropic compression or triaxial shear.