Effect of Void Ratio and Water Contents on the Small-Strain Shear Modulus for Sands

The dynamic behavior of sand samples in earthquake-prone regions must be thoroughly characterized and incorporated into building design processes. Seismic events induce significant changes in the stress-strain behavior and strength characteristics of soils, which in turn lead to ground deformations and potential structural damage. Therefore, it is essential to determine key dynamic soil properties such as the maximum shear modulus, the normalized shear modulus reduction curve, and the damping ratio curve, which are representative of the site conditions. However, the laboratory-based determination of the maximum shear modulus is both time-consuming and costly. To address this limitation, empirical models have been developed to provide practical alternatives for researchers. In this study, a series of resonant column tests were conducted on silty sand samples collected from a site located along the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), one of the most active fault systems in Turkey. The tests were performed under varying confining pressures, void ratios, and water contents. Based on the experimental results, an empirical model with high predictive capability is proposed for engineering applications.