Cyclic triaxial tests

Dynamic triaxial testing is conducted on soils which are under (constant) dynamic loading, e.g. earthquakes, passing vehicles, waves, wind and vibrating machinery.  For these soils it is important what effect these dynamic pressures have on the soil properties, e.g. strength and deformation. Often the impact of a single amplitude of these dynamic stress (during a static triaxial test) is so small that the soil would easily absorb it and therefore negligible. However, over time, as the stress is dynamic and reoccurring,  the effect might become cumulative. There are two main aspects to the dynamic cyclic loading which make for a different soil response than ‘traditional’ static loading: the reversal of the applied pressures and the response rate of the soil. 

The test is conducted using a dynamic triaxial device, a more advantage version of a (normal) static triaxial system. The tests are performed under project specific conditions, depending the required parameters, e.g. frequency, amplitude, one-way or two way-loading, etc.