UC San Diego

This paper focuses on a new instructional module for the physical modeling of stress distributions within a layer of sand developed for use with an instructional centrifuge. This study is designed to help undergraduate geotechnical students to develop a deeper understanding of the assumptions behind the analytical solutions for the stress distribution under a square footing. A new centrifuge container was designed with the ability to measure the change in stress at a point within a sand layer due to the application of a static applied load at the surface of the layer. An experimental procedure was developed allowing 3 to 4 tests to be run during a typical 2 hour-long laboratory session. A template for an excel-based laboratory report is presented that can be used by undergraduate students during class to prepare the soil specimen and compare the experimental results with existing analytical solutions. The report also includes observational questions requiring the students to consider the influences of boundary effects and arching in centrifuge modeling. © 2010 Taylor & Francis Group, London.