Analysis of Shear Crushing Behavior of Graded Calcareous Sand in Building Applications

Calcareous sand, a critical construction material in reef engineering and building foundations, possesses unique internal microstructures and inherent mechanical properties. Given these characteristics, it is essential to thoroughly evaluate its strength under various loading conditions to ensure its reliability in building applications. This study examines the strength, deformation, and failure characteristics of calcareous sand through consolidated drained shear failure tests using a GDS stress path triaxial apparatus. The effects of shear rate, particle gradation, and compactness are systematically investigated to assess their impact on structural stability in building foundations and load-bearing applications. The results indicate that at low confining pressures, calcareous sand exhibits strain softening, whereas at higher confining pressures, strain hardening is observed. For samples with the same gradation, both peak deviatoric stress and failure strain increase linearly with confining pressure. The volume strain evolution during shear follows three stages: shear shrinkage, shear dilatancy, and stabilization. At low confining pressures, dilatancy is favored, while high confining pressures promote shrinkage. Additionally, under constant confining pressure, peak strength increases and failure strain decreases linearly with compactness. Increasing the loading rate from 0.01 to 0.1 mm/min results in a slight increase in the friction angle, with minimal impact on cohesion. Particle gradation plays a significant role in determining the shear strength of calcareous sand, as its effects vary depending on the combination of compactness and gradation. These findings provide valuable insights for the design and construction of stable building foundations, roadbeds, and other load-bearing structures in reef engineering and coastal developments, where calcareous sand is widely used.