Based on the provided engineering reference, dense sand is a material found within underlying soil strata that possess specific pressure characteristics relevant in geotechnical analysis.
Understanding Dense Sand in Context
According to the reference, dense sand is identified as a component of soil layers located beneath a structure or area of interest. These underlying soil strata are important in engineering, particularly when assessing the soil's past stress history compared to current or future loads.
Characteristics of Strata Containing Dense Sand
The reference describes these soil strata, which contain dense sand, alongside other materials such as:
- Stiff clays
- Weathered rock
A key characteristic highlighted is the relationship between the soil's preconsolidation pressure and the applied load.
Preconsolidation Pressure vs. Applied Load
The reference states that these soil strata, containing dense sand, have a preconsolidation pressure that is greater than the applied load.
- Preconsolidation Pressure: This represents the maximum pressure the soil strata have experienced in their history. It's a measure of how much the soil has been compressed in the past.
- Applied Load: This is the current or anticipated pressure being placed on the soil by a structure or other external forces.
In the scenario described by the reference, the soil strata containing dense sand are considered "overconsolidated" because their past pressure history (preconsolidation pressure) exceeds the current pressure being applied.
Therefore, according to the provided reference, dense sand is a material that can be found in underlying soil layers, often alongside stiff clays or weathered rock, within a soil mass where the maximum past pressure significantly exceeds the current applied pressure.
