An energy-injecting virtual-mass (EIVM) resonant column system was employed to investigate the small strain behavior of dry sand; and the effects of effective mean normal stress
density of soil samples
amplitude of shear strain
as well as number of loading cycles on shear modulus and damping ratio are studied. The test results show that the shear modulus increases with effective mean normal stress and soil density
while the damping ratio exhibits the opposite response. Moreover
the effects of effective mean normal stress on the small strain behavior of dry sand are more than those of soil density. As the shear strain increases
the shear modulus become smaller; but the damping ratio become larger. The number of loading cycles has no significant effects on shear modulus
but it influences the damping ratio to a quite extent.