The effect of temperature on the drained shear behavior of calcareous sand

In answer to the growing demands for temperature-related engineering applications in marine geotechnical engineering, this article explores the effect of temperature on the drained shear behavior of calcareous sand. Sixteen drained triaxial shear tests were therefore performed on calcareous sand under various temperatures, and in addition, a further eight were carried out on Fujian standard quartz sand by way of comparison. The results showed that an increase in temperature aggravated the particle breakage of calcareous sand in shear. Increasing the temperature improved the strength and dilatancy of quartz sand but weakened them in calcareous sand. This aggravation of particle breakage at high temperature seems to be one of the main reasons behind the decrease in the strength and dilatancy of calcareous sand. Increasing the temperature led to a decrease in the peak-state friction angle φps, the maximum dilatancy angle ψps, the critical-state friction angle φcs and the critical-state void ratio of calcareous sand. A stress-dilatancy equation for the impairment of the stress-dilatancy behavior caused by increasing the temperature was proposed for calcareous sand, and an empirical model for estimating φcs was then put forward. An increase in the temperature caused the increase in relative particle breakage Br of calcareous sand. φps and ψmax decreased with Br as a negative correlation power function. Additionally, the effect of particle breakage on φcs had a correlation with the stress state. This study may be helpful in reducing the deterioration of structural stability in projects with an inadequate design due to the lack of a full understanding of the effect of temperature on calcareous sand.