Experimental Study of Bearing Capacity Effect in Swelling Soil

The current study aims to investigate the effects of swell pressure on the bearing capacity of swelling soil. A model and some laboratory tests have been created to investigate the swell pressure effect on the bearing capacity variation of soil swelling due to swelling pressure. The influence of varying water content w/c and dry unit weight (γ d ) on the shear strength and swelling pressure was studied. The soil has been taken from Diwan Residential Compound-Mosul. It is classified as highly swelling soil. The swell pressure of soils at their natural water content reached 385 kN / m2 . Experiment results show that the parameters of shear resistance decreased with the w/c increase at the constant value of (γ d ), increased with the (γd ) increase when the w/c was constant. Results show that the swelling pressure decreased with the w/c increase, while it increased with the (γ d ) increase. Also, the results obtained using was model show that the resistance of bearing capacity of pre-saturated selected soil was 196 kN / m 2, while the bearing capacity was 620kN / m 2 when taking into account in the generation of swelling pressure.

Strength and Compressibility of Ammonia-Soda Residue from the Solvay Sodium Plant

This work presents the discussion of the results for an experimental study conducted to characterise the mechanical behaviour of ammonia-soda residue (ASR). The calcareous sludge is an alkaline waste formed during the production of soda ash and deposited at the area of the former Solvay Sodium Plant factory in Krakow, Poland. Isotropically consolidation drained (CID) triaxial tests and constant rate of strain (CRS) consolidation tests include the full saturation with water, completion of the consolidation, and the loading/strain rate choice. For this purpose, ASR undisturbed samples were collected from the ground and submitted to laboratory experiments. These samples show a distinct difference in the initial bulk density, the initial level of compaction, initial void ratio, and the natural water content. The CD triaxial tests were conducted under three different levels of confining pressure; in turn, CRS tests were run with two appropriate input strain rates. According to the physical state of ASR and the depth of sampling, two different evolutions of the critical state in the stress–strain space were observed. In the light of the assessed stress–strain–strength behaviour, key design engineering parameters of ASR were calculated.

Analysis of Geotechnical Characteristics of Coastal Clay Soil Found in Incheon and Gwangyang

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of projects involving the planning and construction of business complex facilities and land development in coastal regions. However, coastal regions are characterized by very soft clay soil. Consequently, such clay soil needs to be augmented for facilitating land procurement. Furthermore, to realize land improvement, the associated geotechnical characteristics need to be analyzed through laboratory tests by acquiring pristine samples of cohesive soil. According to the results obtained from previous studies, the characteristics of the cohesive soil found in Korea can vary depending on the region and depositional environment. The objective of this study is to examine the representative physical and mechanical characteristics of marine clay found in Namhae coast (Gwangyang) and Seohae coast (Incheon) by comparing and analyzing these characteristics. To this end, land examinations were conducted during planning and construction, and data were gathered from 445 sites in Incheon and 844 sites in Gwangyang for comparing the associated physical and mechanical characteristics. Subsequently, by conducting regression analysis, equations of correlation between liquid limit and natural water content, effective surface load and pre-consolidation load, compression index and liquid limit, and compression index and natural water content were deduced. The obtained results indicate that compared to the soil found in Incheon, the clay fraction, natural water content, liquid limit, plasticity index, liquidity index, initial void ratio, and compression index of the soil found in Gwangyang are higher.

A Comparative Study On The Physical Properties of Natural Sedimentary Loess And Manual Filling Compacted Loess

With the development of human society, mega engineering projects of removing the tops of hills to infill valleys began to appear in the loess region. The thickness of the manual filling compacted loess can reach tens of meters. For such large-scale construction projects, studying the properties of compacted loess is essential to ensure the safety and reliability of land creation and artificial infrastructure. In this paper, the specimens from two exploration well profiles were carried out to study the physical properties of natural loess and compacted loess from the Loess Plateau. Here the natural loess selected was deposited in old ages (Q2 and Q1) and had strong stability. The natural water content, dry density, specific gravity, liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index, clay fraction, silt fraction, sand fraction, compression modulus, and permeability coefficient have been determined. Statistical theories such as t-test and correlation coefficient checks were used to describe the difference between the two kinds of loess, and the degree of correlation among various indicators. Besides, 14 groups of exploration well data in 8 studies were collected. The variation of natural water content and dry density with well depth was analyzed to supplement the existing data. Results have shown that the manual filling compacted loess is significantly different from the natural loess. On the whole, the liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index, clay fraction, silt fraction, sand fraction and compression modulus of the compacted loess are smaller. And compared with the natural sedimentary loess with strong stability, it deforms more easily. The difference of compression modulus between the compacted loess and natural loess is mainly controlled by the dry density and the particle composition. Moreover, the heterogeneous level of the manual filling compacted loess is greater than that of the natural loess in the horizontal direction and smaller than that of the natural loess in the vertical direction. Under a combination of external hydrologic conditions and dead weight, the compacted loess will become more stable.

Thixotropic Hardening of Fao Clay

Fao region is characterized by weak soft silty clay to clayey silt thick layer which extends to a depth of about 20 m. The construction of some structures on such soils may needs piles. During the installation of driven piles, the soil geotechnical properties are exposed to significant changes result due to shearing under large shear strains. These changes significantly decrease the shear strength of the virgin soil due to the destruction of soil structure caused by remolding. The degradation of shear strength is usually followed by strength regaining which is called “Thixotropy”. In this study, the thixotropic effect on Fao clay was investigated. Many disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were brought from Fao region. Some of the soil samples were thoroughly remolded in the laboratory in its natural water content and molded as direct shear specimens. More than 180 specimens were prepared and tested over 36 weeks in order to accurately assess the percentage of strength regaining with time passing. The results show that soil remolding causes about a 45 % reduction in shear strength in comparing with the shear strength of the intact soil. This reduced percent in shear strength was almost fully regained after 25 weeks due to thixotropic effect.

Correlations for undrained shear strength of Finnish soft clays

The study focuses on the derivation of transformation models for undrained shear strength (su) of Finnish soft sensitive clays. Specific correlation equations for su of Finnish clays are presented in this work for the first time. Field and laboratory measurements from 24 test sites in Finland are exploited for this purpose and a multivariate database is constructed. The multivariate data consist of su from the field vane test, preconsolidation stress, vertical effective stress, liquid limit, plastic limit, natural water content, and sensitivity. The main objective is to evaluate the interdependence of su, consolidation stresses, and index parameters and provide a consistent framework for practical use. The new correlations are established through regression analyses. The constructed framework is further validated by another independent multivariate database of clays from Sweden and Norway as well as by empirical equations for Swedish and Norwegian clays. Existing correlations are evaluated for Finnish and Scandinavian clays. Finally, bias and uncertainties of the new correlations are presented.

Soil Improvement of Pinus yunnanensis Forest at Different Age in Central Yunnan Plateau

Took the Pinus yunnanensis forest as the research object, and took planted forest for control, carried on a research in soil physicochemical properties of different forest ages of Pinus yunnanensis. The results show that: For secondary forests at different ages, (1) middle-aged forest has the smallest soil bulk density and largest soil natural water content. Compared with the same age planted forest, secondary forest has smaller soil bulk density and larger soil natural water content.(2) Middle-aged forest has the smallest soil pH value, and the tallest total nitrogen content and soil organic matter in the 0-20cm soil layer. Compared with the same age planted forest, secondary forest has smaller pH value. While its soil organic matter and total nitrogen content are more than planted forest significantly.(3)There is an extremely significant negative correlation among pH value, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content; while an extremely significant positive correlation between soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content.