Steady-state properties of Nanjing sand

The CU tests on the reconstituted samples of Nanjing sand are performed and the experimental results are analyzed based on the steady-state theory. The steady-state line under low confining pressure is a curve, which is suitable for the behaviors of loose Nanjing sand in tests. The ultimate deviatoric stress of loose Nanjing sand under lower confining pressure is close to 0 and the behaviors in tests are unsteady. The steady state is the inherent attribute of soils. The steady-state angle of internal friction, 35.2 ? for Nanjing sand, is obtained not only by a fitting curve of, but also by the linear extremity of effective stress paths under different relative densities. The peak strength of sand is overvalued during the flow slide, and there is the residual strength. The relation between the peak strength and the residual strength is obtained. The strength reduction in the strain softening and flow slide of Nanjing sand is expressed in terms of a brittleness index. A smaller change can lead to the larger change of the strain softening of Nanjing sand to great extent.