Boundary-Condition Transfer Laws for Cone Resistance in Gap-Graded Sands

Authors

  • Simone Piras

Keywords:

Cone Penetration Testing, Calibration Chamber, Gap-Graded Sands, Boundary Effects, Discrete Element Method

Abstract

Cone penetration testing is recognized as a premier in-situ tool for geotechnical site characterization, offering continuous measurements of soil stratigraphy and strength. To interpret cone resistance in sands, researchers heavily rely on calibration chamber tests where boundary conditions significantly influence the measured penetration resistance. This chamber size effect necessitates the application of boundary-condition transfer laws to estimate free-field cone resistance from chamber data. While extensive studies have focused on uniformly graded sands, the behavior of gap-graded sands remains poorly understood. Gap-graded sands, characterized by a missing range of intermediate particle sizes, exhibit complex internal structures and mechanical responses, including internal instability and unique stress-dilatancy behaviors. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation into the boundary-condition transfer laws specifically tailored for gap-graded sands. Through an extensive experimental program utilizing a large-scale calibration chamber and complementary three-dimensional discrete element method simulations, this research evaluates the distinct responses of gap-graded mixtures under various classical boundary conditions. The findings reveal that gap-graded sands exhibit an amplified sensitivity to lateral boundary constraints due to the kinematic mobility of finer particles within the coarse soil matrix. By integrating cavity expansion theory with state parameter concepts, modified mathematical transfer functions are proposed and validated. These updated laws facilitate more accurate field interpretations for gap-graded deposits, reducing uncertainties in the design of critical geotechnical infrastructure such as offshore foundations and tailings storage facilities.

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Published

2026-09-05

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): International Journal of Innovative Research

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Simone Piras

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