Some effects of intrinsic cyclic loading in saturated sands

This paper presents original results of triaxial experiments performed at a cyclically changed pore pressure (intrinsic cyclic loading). The results display unusual behaviour of saturated sand subjected to such atypical loading. Some features of this behaviour are shown, including the following effects: static liquefaction of initially contractive sand, apparent creep of initially dilative sand, initial anisotropy, etc. Some differences between the classical geotechnical understanding of the effects of external cyclic loadings (such as earthquakes) and those caused by intrinsic cyclic loadings (such as wave-induced pressures) are discussed.