Tensile Stress-Strain Characteristics of Lightly Cemented Sand

Laboratory tensile and unconfined compression test results on lightly cemented sand specimens are reported. Type I portland cement was mixed with sand in proportions of 4, 6, and 8% by weight to prepare the specimens. Tensile strength was determined by indirect tensile strength testing and direct tension testing. The variation of tensile strain with stress in indirect tensile strength tests was measured by a computer-aided image analysis method. Based on the test results, tensile and compressive strengths and strain levels at failure have been determined and compared. Nondimensional tensile stress-strain relationships in the form of a rectangular hyperbola as obtained from the indirect tensile strength tests and direct tension tests have been developed.