A fundamentel understanding of soil behavior under cyclic loading conditions such as in machinre foundations and construction siting conditions under heavy vehicular traffic is, at best, inadequate. A high safety factor is generally used in large construction operations due to the inability to quantitatively predict the soil behavior under these conditions. The research develops a model of granular soils based on a particulate mechanics approach for a wide range of strains and incrementel loading conditions. Specific quantitative models will be developed and verified under laboratory conditions and from field data. The research makes systematic efforts to develop soil models and compares the macroscopiv ptedictiond and relates the results with the micromechanic phenomena at grain and contact levels. The results will provide quantitative verification of the densification phenomena developed by the investigator. Large scale experiments for this research will be carried in a unique test facility, in cooperation with the University of Texas. The principal investigator is a recognized expert in this research area. A grant is recommended.
