Compression and strength of dense sand at high pressures and elevated temperatures

The paper examines the stress–strain behaviour of densely compacted sand tested at pressures up to 80 MPa in one-dimensional compression and 7.2 MPa confining pressure in triaxial tests. Tests were performed at temperatures up to 100 °C. The testing relates to a proposal by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited to fill containers of waste nuclear fuel with a crushed quartz sand to provide additional stiffness. No significant effects of temperature were encountered in either isotropic compression or triaxial shear.Key words: sand, compression, shear strength, temperature, pressure.