This study aims to evaluate the impacts of initial stress anisotropy on the variation of elastic shear stiffness of silica sand through the application of continuous shear wave velocity measurements during two distinct compression and extension loading paths. Besides, the validation of existing empirical models during both the consolidation and shearing stages is assessed. The specimens were prepared using the water sedimentation (WS) method and then consolidated with different stress ratios (eta=q/p ') from -0.6 to +0.6. Afterward, they were subjected to strain-controlled axial compression and axial extension shear in the drained condition. The shear wave velocities in the triaxial specimen were measured continuously during the consolidation and shearing stages by employing an automated small strain system. The results indicate the significant impacts of the initial stress anisotropy on the small strain shear stiffness of sand. The study also revealed that while the existing empirical correlations can be suitably applied within the elastic zone, the precision of these models in predicting the shear modulus during the shear loading when the soil's behavior enters the plastic zone is not reliable.

During the development blasting of circular tunnels, the detonation of multiple blastholes arranged on concentric circles induces a complex dynamic response in the surrounding rocks. This process involves multiple blast loadings, static stress unloadings, and stress redistributions. In this study, the dynamic stresses of the surrounding rocks during development blasting, considering multiple blasting-unloading stages with exponential paths and triangular paths (linear simplified paths of exponential paths), are solved based on the dynamic theory and the Fourier transform method. Then, a corresponding discrete element model is established using particle flow code (PFC). The multiple-stage dynamic stress and fracture distribution under different in situ stress levels and lateral coefficients are investigated. Theoretical results indicate that the peak compressive stresses in the surrounding rocks induced by both triangular and exponential paths are equal, while the triangular path generates greater additional dynamic tensile stresses, particularly in the circumferential direction, compared to the exponential path. Numerical results show that the exponential path causes less dynamic circumferential tensile damage and forms fewer radial fractures than the triangular path in the first few blast stages; conversely, it exacerbates the damage and instability in the final blasting-unloading stage and forms more circumferential fractures. Furthermore, the in situ stress determines which of the two opposite effects is dominant. Therefore, when using overly simplified triangular paths to evaluate the stability of surrounding rocks, potential overestimation or underestimation caused by different failure mechanisms should be considered. Specifically, under high horizontal and vertical stresses, the static stress redistribution with layer-by-layer blasting suppresses dynamic circumferential tensile and radial compressive damage. The damage evolution of surrounding rocks in multi-stage blasting under different in situ stresses is summarized and classified according to the damage mechanism and characteristics, which can guide blasting and support design. (c) 2025 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/ 4.0/).

Calcareous sand, a distinctive granular material in geotechnical engineering, has garnered significant interest due to its irregular particle shapes, internal porosity, susceptibility to breakage, and critical role in island and offshore construction. Despite its importance, the influence of loading paths on its mechanical behavior and particle breakage remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap through an extensive experimental program, including isotropic consolidation and both drained and undrained triaxial compression tests, systematically varying loading paths and initial densities. The findings demonstrate that the strength and deformation characteristics of calcareous sand are profoundly affected by loading paths, initial densities, and particle breakage. A novel breakage evolution model is proposed, effectively capturing gradation changes under diverse testing conditions. Furthermore, the study quantifies the impacts of these factors on critical mechanical properties, including peak friction angle, dilatancy, secant modulus, and critical state parameters. These results provide a robust theoretical foundation for the development of constitutive models that integrate particle breakage and initial density effects. The insights are essential for optimizing geotechnical designs, enhancing stability, and improving infrastructure reliability in coastal and marine environments, particularly in island and reef development projects.