Geotechnical parameters of reclaimed sandfill from the cone penetration test
Sandfill at reclaimed sites is usually formed by more than one placement method. Reclaimed sandfill is often highly variable, and the cone penetration test is most commonly used for site characterization. Correlations among the cone resistance and geotechnical parameters for sand are influenced by the in situ stress level, and it is important to incorporate the stress-level effect. In this study, cone penetration tests were performed at several levels from the top of a 10 m high surcharge, which was later removed step by step, and in situ density was determined layer by layer at the Changi East reclamation site in Singapore. Different ways of normalizing the cone resistance by the corresponding in situ stress were investigated. Specialized in situ tests including the self-boring pressuremeter test, the cone pressure meter test, the seismic cone penetration test, and the plate load test were conducted to provide the reference deformation characteristics of sandfill. Results of the in situ tests indicate that the sand density and the cone resistance profiles vary between areas formed by different sand placement methods. Site-specific correlations developed based on comparison of normalized cone resistance with the reference data obtained from laboratory tests and other in situ tests are found to be suitable for the evaluation of relevant soil parameters.Key words: stress normalization, cone resistance, correlations, geotechnical parameter, in situ characterization, granular soil.