Critical friction angle and angle of repose the Guamo sand

Abstract

The critical friction angle (φc). is a soil parameter used in different geotechnical analysis, specially in constitutive models. For granular materials a simplified way to obtain φc is by using the angle of repose φrep . This simplification is accepted because the usual methods to determine φc are far more complicated than those required to find φrep. In this research the angle of repose for the Guamo sand is determined, and the influence of many factors on its estimation is assessed such as mass, size and sieve distribution of the particles, diameter and lifting velocity of the funnel and saturation of the sand among others. The value of φc for the Guamo sand was determined with a CU triaxial test and then compared to φrep