The effect of densification on Pieve di Cento sands in cyclic simple shear tests

The main aim of this work is to study the effectiveness of densification as a mitigation technique against liquefaction, by means of cyclic simple shear tests carried out on specimens reconstituted at several relative densities. The adopted cyclic simple shear apparatus works with a sophisticated control system, which allows to carry out tests in k0 condition without using confining rings. An Italian sand has been used, re-trieved in Emilia Romagna Region (Pieve di Cento) that was affected by 2012 earth-quake. Two different sands were tested, both retrieved at Pieve di Cento at different depths. The results of cyclic simple shear tests show that densification increases the resistance to liquefaction. The expression of Booker et al. (1976) has been also used to simulate the trend of excess pore pressure ratio with the ratio between number of cycles and number of cycles at liquefaction of the experimental undrained cyclic tests.