Evaluation of preconsolidation pressure and the overconsolidation ratio from piezocone tests of clay deposits in Quebec

2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 174-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Demers ◽  
Serge Leroueil
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Behaviour ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Overconsolidation Ratio ◽  
Clay Deposits ◽  
Pressure Profiles ◽  
Preconsolidation Pressure ◽  
Tip Resistance ◽  
Sensitive Clay

The preconsolidation pressure and overconsolidation ratio profiles are the most important factors related to the mechanical behaviour of clay deposits. They are interpreted on the basis of a limited number of laboratory tests, but the near-continuous information provided by the piezocone can allow local data to be extrapolated to an entire site. Numerous methods have been proposed for relating piezocone data to preconsolidation pressure and the overconsolidation ratio, but their validity is still uncertain. In this paper, nine methods are compared on the basis of data collected on 31 sensitive clay sites in Quebec whose preconsolidation pressure profiles are well known. Each method is briefly presented and the most promising are identified. The simplest method, which directly relates preconsolidation pressure to net tip resistance, also appears to be the most effective.Key words: clay, preconsolidation pressure, overconsolidation ratio, piezocone, correlations.

Interpretation of overconsolidation ratio from in situ tests in Recent clay deposits in Singapore and Malaysia

1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. F. Chang
Keyword(s):  
Site Investigation ◽  
Test Methods ◽  
In Situ Tests ◽  
Stress History ◽  
Overconsolidation Ratio ◽  
Clay Deposits ◽  
Preconsolidation Pressure ◽  
Pressure Stress ◽  
Sample Disturbance

The stress history as indicated by the profile of overconsolidation ratio (OCR) of a soil deposit is one of the most dominant factors that influence the engineering behaviour of the soil. Its assessment, which is traditionally based on the laboratory oedometer test, is not often satisfactory. The problem arises from inevitable sample disturbance and the high cost of a detailed investigation. These difficulties can be overcome by the use of in situ tests. The field vane test, the piezocone test, and the dilatometer test are three such methods that provide indirect means for the estimation of the OCR for clay deposits. A number of empirical correlations are available for this purpose. Calibration of these correlations against results of site investigation in Singapore and Malaysian marine clays reveals the usefulness of these test methods in profiling the OCR for Recent clay deposits. Key words: clay, in situ test, overconsolidation ratio, preconsolidation pressure, stress history.

Statistical relationships between piezocone measurements and stress history of clays

1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 488-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
B SY Chen ◽  
P W Mayne
Keyword(s):  
Cone Penetration ◽  
Stress History ◽  
Statistical Correlations ◽  
Cone Tip Resistance ◽  
Clay Deposits ◽  
Preconsolidation Pressure ◽  
Tip Resistance ◽  
History Of ◽  
Statistical Relationships ◽  
Oedometer Tests

A database containing piezocone soundings from 205 clay sites around the world has been compiled for the calibration of an analytical cone penetration model and the development of statistical correlations. Yield stresses from laboratory oedometer tests were used as reference values for determining the stress history of natural clay deposits. Both simple and multiple regression analyses were performed on these data to evaluate correlative trends. Several simplified empirical relationships were identified for use in practice with the most reliable in relating preconsolidation stress to net cone tip resistance. Key words: cone tip resistance, overconsolidation ratio (OCR), preconsolidation pressure, piezocone, statistical relationships, stress history.

Electroosmotic strengthening of soft sensitive clays

1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Y. Lo ◽  
I. I. Inculet ◽  
K. S. Ho
Keyword(s):  
Pore Water ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Strength Increase ◽  
Sample Length ◽  
Voltage Distribution ◽  
Steady Current ◽  
Preconsolidation Pressure ◽  
Sensitive Clay ◽  
Pressure Stress

A comprehensive experimental investigation on the electroosmotic strengthening of soft sensitive clay was performed to assess the effectiveness of the treatment and to study the mechanism of the process. A specially designed electroosmotic cell was developed to prevent gas accumulation near the electrodes, to allow better electrode-soil contact, and to improve the treatment efficiency. This apparatus also enables the monitoring of the generated negative pore-water pressure along the sample length, settlement, voltage distribution, and current variation during treatment. The investigation covered two different types of soil trimmed at different orientations: the vertically and horizontally trimmed overconsolidated Wallaceburg clay and the vertically trimmed slightly overconsolidated soft sensitive Gloucester (Leda) clay. Results of this study showed that the voltage distribution and induced negative pore pressure at equilibrium along the sample are linear with steady current flow across the sample, indicating that the electrode design in the electroosmosis test apparatus is efficient. The electroosmotic consolidation curve is similar to that of the conventional consolidation curve, and the preconsolidation pressure was increased by 51–88% with an applied voltage up to 6 V. The undrained shear strength increased to a maximum of 172%, and the moisture content decreased by 30%. The technique of electrode reversal is employed, and a relatively uniform strength increase between the electrodes is observed. Key words: electroosmosis, electroosmotic cell, soft sensitive clay, negative pore-water pressure, preconsolidation pressure, stress–strain behaviour.

scholarly journals Improved Determination of Preconsolidation Pressure of a Sensitive Clay

2009 ◽  
pp. 254-254-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Hamilton ◽  
C. B. Crawford
Keyword(s):  
Preconsolidation Pressure ◽  
Sensitive Clay

Effect of OCR on sampling disturbance of cohesive soils and evaluation of laboratory reconsolidation procedures

2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 459-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marika Santagata ◽  
John T Germaine
Keyword(s):  
Effective Means ◽  
Triaxial Tests ◽  
Single Element ◽  
Cohesive Soils ◽  
Stress Strain ◽  
Overconsolidation Ratio ◽  
Strain Behavior ◽  
Preconsolidation Pressure ◽  
Strength Behavior ◽  
Undrained Strength

The paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of sampling disturbance in cohesive soils through single-element triaxial tests on resedimented Boston blue clay (RBBC). The first part of the paper discusses the effect of the overconsolidation ratio (OCR) (1–8) of the soil on postdisturbance compression and undrained shear behavior. The results demonstrate that sensitivity to disturbance decreases markedly with OCR. It is also found that for the medium-sensitivity soil tested, the estimate of the preconsolidation pressure is not significantly affected by OCR. The second part of the paper discusses laboratory reconsolidation procedures. For OCR1 RBBC, the recompression method is not effective in recovering the stress–strain behavior of the soil and, for greater disturbance, provides an increasingly unsafe estimate of the strength. For OCR4, provided the reconsolidation path reproduces the path that occurred in the field, this procedure succeeds in recovering the intact stress–strain–strength behavior of the soil. SHANSEP reconsolidation was investigated for normally consolidated RBBC only. For modest levels of disturbance, this is an effective means of evaluating both the stress–strain and the strength behavior of the soil. For greater levels of disturbance, the stress–strain behavior is not fully recovered, but the method continues to provide conservative estimates of the undrained strength.Key words: sampling disturbance, clays, overconsolidation ratio, undrained strength, recompression, SHANSEP.

A novel technique of electrical strengthening of soft sensitive clays by dielectrophoresis

1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Y. Lo ◽  
K. S. Ho ◽  
I. I. Inculet
Keyword(s):  
Shear Strength ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
High Voltage ◽  
Alternating Current ◽  
Novel Technique ◽  
Strain Behaviour ◽  
Preconsolidation Pressure ◽  
Electro Osmosis ◽  
Sensitive Clay ◽  
Applied Electric Potential

A novel technique of electrical strengthening of soil by dielectrophoresis was developed. The process employs an alternating current at high voltage, generating a converging electric field towards the electrode by which a net resultant movement of water in the clay mass is produced towards the direction of stronger electric field intensity. Laboratory tests were developed to investigate the mechanism of this process and to explore the possibility of its application in electrical strengthening of soft sensitive clays. The preliminary results of this study showed that the process is effective, and the shear strength of the treated clay (Wallaceburg clay) increased drastically by several times with a reduction of moisture content of approximately 25% at an applied electric potential of 20 kV for 28 days. When compared with electro-osmosis, similar results are obtained in dielectrophoresis, such as the increase in preconsolidation pressure, decrease in sensitivity, and improvement of stress–strain behaviour. It is also shown that the improvement of soil properties can be greatly enhanced by increasing the applied voltage and electrode depth. Key words : dielectrophoresis, alternating current, converging electric field, high-voltage electrode, dielectric constant, electro-osmosis, soft sensitive clay, shear strength, consolidation.

Behaviour of a sensitive clay during pile driving

1981 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Roy ◽  
R. Blanchet ◽  
F. Tavenas ◽  
P. La Rochelle
Keyword(s):  
Scale Effects ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Penetration Resistance ◽  
Pile Driving ◽  
A Value ◽  
Pore Pressures ◽  
Tip Resistance ◽  
Average Unit ◽  
Sensitive Clay ◽  
Static Zone

A full scale investigation with six instrumented test piles has been carried out on the Saint-Alban test site in order to study the behaviour of friction piles in soft sensitive soils. The first part of this investigation, reported in this paper, deals essentially with the effects of pile driving on the induced pore pressures and their dissipation and on the disturbance of the clay around the pile.It is shown that the induced pore pressures at the pile tip ΔuT, and at the pile surface Δus, correspond to 1.6σvo and 0.8σvo respectively. If the failure pattern developed during driving is interpreted by means of the theories of expansion of cavities, it is shown that the induced pore pressures calculated at the pile–soil contact agree well with the measured values; these pore pressures are fully dissipated after 600 h.Immediately after driving, a decrease in the undrained shear strength varying between 0 and 30% was observed in a zone of 3 diameters around the pile. The strength in that zone was nearly fully recovered after the pore pressures had dissipated.The tip resistance measured during driving was quite in excess of the static zone penetration resistance qc, indicating possible scale effects. The average unit skin friction was observed to decrease from a value in the order of cu to about 0.10σvo′ and to be directly related to the pore pressures, i.e., to the effective stresses in the clay around the pile.

EARTHQUAKE-TRIGGERED LANDSLIDE HAZARD IN SENSITIVE CLAY DEPOSITS

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Didier Perret ◽  
◽  
Remi Mompin ◽  
Pascal Locat ◽  
Denis Demers
Keyword(s):  
Landslide Hazard ◽  
Clay Deposits ◽  
Sensitive Clay

Slope failures associated with the 1988 Saguenay earthquake, Quebec, Canada

1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy Lefebvre ◽  
Denis Leboeuf ◽  
Pierre Hornych ◽  
Luc Tanguay
Keyword(s):  
Granular Material ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Slope Failure ◽  
Failure Surface ◽  
Slope Failures ◽  
Clay Deposits ◽  
Sensitive Clay ◽  
Static Conditions ◽  
Undrained Loading ◽  
Natural Slopes

Nine case records of slope failure during the Saguenay earthquake are documented, including five in granular embankments, two in natural slopes in granular material with small embankments at the top, and two in sensitive clay. The bedrock motion during the earthquake is well documented; each failure is related to the most probable bedrock motion at the site (0.05 to 0.15 g). For the seven cases of failure in granular slopes, the reserve of stability under static conditions was relatively low before the earthquake, and only a small additional undrained loading was necessary to develop failure. Two slope failures occurred in extrasensitive clay deposits containing no visible lens or layer of silt or sand. Silty or sandy materials have been identified only at the clay–till contact. It is believed that in at least one of the sites a portion of the failure surface developed at the inclined clay–till contact. Key words : slope failure, earthquake, sensitive clays, embankment fill, stability, granular material.

Electrical strengthening of clays by dielectrophoresis

1994 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.Y. Lo ◽  
J.Q. Shang ◽  
I.I. Inculet
Keyword(s):  
Shear Strength ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Soil Improvement ◽  
Nonuniform Electric Field ◽  
Experimental Program ◽  
Effective Polarizability ◽  
Clay Particles ◽  
Shearing Resistance ◽  
Preconsolidation Pressure ◽  
Sensitive Clay

The theory of dielectrophoresis in clay–water–electrolyte systems is developed in this paper. Dielectrophoresis is the motion of particles generated by a nonuniform electric field. The dielectrophoretic forces on clay particles are determined by the effective polarizability and configuration of the nonuniform electric field. In most clay–water–electrolyte systems, including natural clays, the dielectrophoretic forces are directed towards the lower field intensity, determined by the negative polarizability. In the experimental program, an ac voltage of 60 Hz and 15 kV was applied through insulated electrodes on block samples of Leda clay for 28 days. The relationship between the soil undrained shear strength after treatment and the distribution of electric field provides direct experimental support for the theory developed. Under three electrical-field configurations, the overall shear strengths increased up to 44.0%, concurrent with significant reduction of sensitivity. The improvement of soil properties was also reflected as increases of preconsolidation pressure and shearing resistance in terms of effective stresses. The electrochemical reactions associated with electric current were minimized by insulation to the electrodes. Key words : dielectrophoresis, electrokinetics, soil improvement, sensitive clay, shear strength.

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