Use of piezocone tests to predict consolidation yield stress and overconsolidation ratio of lagoonal deposit soil

Existing empirical methods for interpreting the consolidation yield stress and the overconsolidation ratio （OCR） in clays from piezocone tests are briefly reviewed. It can be seen that no universal correlation exists for all worldwide sites. However, for a given clay deposit, there does exist a most appropriate method to reflect the consolidation yield stress and the OCR based on piezocone test data. Three empirical methods are compared based on the piezocone test data collected on Lixia River lagoonal deposit soil sites in the north of Jiangsu province. The objective of this study is to evaluate the validity of the existing relationships linking the consolidation yield stress to piezocone test data and identify the appropriate method for Lixia River lagoonal deposit soil. It is shown that the correlation based on the net tip resistance has much higher accuracy for estimating the consolidation yield stress of lagoonal deposit soil than other methods.

Dynamic shear modulus of undisturbed soil under different consolidation ratios and its effects on surface ground motion

The dynamic shear modulus for three types of undisturbed soil under different consolidation ratios is presented by using the resonant column test method. Its effects on surface ground motion is illustrated by calculation. The test results indicate that the power function is a suitable form for describing the relationship between the ratio of the maximum dynamic shear modulus due to anisotropic and isotropic consolidations and the increment of the consolidation ratio. When compared to sand, the increment of the maximum dynamic shear modulus for undisturbed soil due to anisotropic consolidation is much larger. Using a one-dimensional equivalent linearization method, the earthquake influence factor and the characteristic period of the surface acceleration are calculated for two soil layers subjected to several typical earthquake waves. The calculated results show that the difference in nonlinear properties due to different consolidation ratios is generally not very notable, but the degree of its influence on the surface acceleration spectrum is remarkable for the occurrence of strong earthquakes. When compared to isotropic consolidation, the consideration of actual anisotropic consolidation causes the characteristic period to decrease and the earthquake influence factor to increase.

Effect of consolidation ratios on maximum dynamic shear modulus of sands

The dynamic shear modulus (DSM) is the most basic soil parameter in earthquake or other dynamic loading conditions and can be obtained through testing in the field or in the laboratory. The effect of consolidation ratios on the maximum DSM for two types of sand is investigated by using resonant column tests. And, an increment formula to obtain the maximum DSM for cases of consolidation ratio κc>1 is presented. The results indicate that the maximum DSM rises rapidly when κc is near 1 and then slows down, which means that the power function of the consolidation ratio increment κc-1 can be used to describe the variation of the maximum DSM due to κc>1. The results also indicate that the increase in the maximum DSM due to κc>1 is significantly larger than that predicted by Hardin and Black's formula.

Inversion and Prediction of Consolidation Settlement Characteristics of the Fluvial Sediments Based on Void Ratio Variation in the Northern Modern Yellow River Subaqueous Delta, China

The modern Yellow River delta is formed near the estuary of the Yellow River with the characteristics of short formation time, efficient sedimentation rate and loose structure which make sediments prone to be compacted and consolidate under the geostatic stress and overburden stress. It is one of the key areas with land subsidence disasters in China, bringing a series of safety hazards to production and living. Based on the data of massive surface cores and ten drill holes ranging from 12 to 40 m obtained from the northern modern Yellow River subaqueous delta, the inversion method suitable for the calculation of consolidation settlement characteristics of the modern Yellow River subaqueous delta is discussed, and the consolidation settlement characteristics of the delta sediments are inversed and predicted in this paper. The actual void ratio of the delta sediments at the depth from 3 to 15 m shows a significant power function relationship with the depth, while the void ratio of the sediments below 15 m changes little with depth. The pre-consolidation settlement(from deposition to sampling) of the delta sediments is between 0.91 and 1.96 m, while the consolidation settlement of unit depth is between 9.6 and 14.0 cm m^(-1). The post-consolidation settlement(from sampling to stable) of the subaqueous delta sediments is between 0.65 and 1.56 m in the later stage, and the consolidation settlement of unit depth is between 7.6 and 13.1 cm m^(-1) under the overburden stress. The delta sediments with a buried depth of 3 to 7 m contribute the most to the possible consolidation settlement in the later stage.

Consolidation Properties of Highly Plastic Clay During Osmotic Pressure Consolidation Test

For the very soft clay with high water content, its void ratio, compressibility coefficient and permeability varied with stress during consolidation. It is necessary to use large strain consolidation based on the permeability-void ratio relationship and effective stress-void ratio relationship to analyze these properties. To overcome the disadvantages of conventional oedometer test, and determine the effective stress-void relations of this kind of soil, osmotic pressure consolidation test for highly plastic clay study and the expression of permeability-void ratio are performed. Therefore, the decided properties will be reasonably used for solving the large strain consolidation equation.

Some Classical Terzaghi Primary Consolidation Differential Equation Mathematical Added Variabilities in Order to Get Better Field Monitoring Data Match Results

In this paper is illustrated a mathematical added variability of the classical Terzaghi primary consolidation equation(1923)considering independently as variables the Consolidation Coefficient Cv and as well the Height Hi of the consolidating Laboratory Consolidation Test soil sample in order to finally grasp the low permeability layer time behaviour.It is easy to show that,when the Cv variation is positive,each of these two added variabilities differentiations has as maximum a factor 2 related to the laboratory evaluated coefficient of consolidation,for a certain incremental load of reference in a Laboratory Consolidation Test.At this scope,it is analysed the overall behaviour of a typical clayey material,from the mineralogical point of view,namely especially either composed by lean clay with main kaolinite mineralogical content or fat namely with Illite mineralogical content or even very dilatant namely principally constituted by Montmorillonite.The Montmorillonite variability with Cv is negative,and consequently the differentiation enhancement factor can become naught.As it is known so far,in normal conditions of a soft clay,a difference in Construction Values of the Coefficient of Consolidation is up to 23 times greater than laboratory evaluated results,and this according to the author’s experience,may be also mainly explained not starting from Laboratory Consolidation Test Data,but through a more general macroscopic behaviour of the soil underneath the newly loaded area,putting aside the case of temperature-induced changes.In conclusion,it is suggested how to model the analytical problem of the so modified Terzaghi Primary Consolidation differential equation in order to better manage the construction unknowns of the phenomenon.

Delta River Swampy Areas Earth Fill Embankments Primary Consolidation Management Issues

It is well known that soft silty clayey and even peaty soils especially existing in Great River Deltas Swampy Areas,under important Earth Fill Embankment Construction experience huge and hardly bearable primary consolidations settlements along with the minor but not negligible consequent secondary consolidation effects.In order to properly manage these particular huge settlements environments,it is very important to follow up the settlements monitoring data,by a macroscopic soil volume interpretation along with some amendments namely some mathematical added variabilities of the classic Terzaghi Primary Consolidation Equation,which are examined in a companion paper recently published in this Journal.In this paper some indications are given about how to face the macroscopic soil volume primary consolidation settlements,and especially it is suggested how to interpret the misleading laboratory consolidation test values of the coefficient of consolidation.Moreover,some design alternative solutions are examined to grasp both the potential technical and economic benefits along with their consequent disadvantages.Finally,this paper underlined the primary role of the supervision engineer to get a good estimate in the settlements forecasting and his related ability to understand the meaning of anomalous monitoring data and to timely make and match the primary consolidation settlements forecasting calculation adjustments.

A method of determining nonlinear large strain consolidation parameters of dredged clays

A method of obtaining the large strain consolidation parameters of dredged clays considering the influence of the initial water content is investigated in this study. According to the test results of remolded clays with high initial water contents reported by Hong et al. （2010）, a relationship between the void ratio （e） and effective stress （a3 is established. Furthermore, based on the available permeability data from the literature, a new relationship between the permeability coefficient （k） and the ratio （e/eL） of the void ratio to the void ratio at the liquid limit （eL） is proposed. The new proposed expression considering the initial water content improves the e-k equation established by Nagaraj et al. （1994）. Finally, the influence of the initial void ratio and effective stress on the large strain consolidation coefficient g（e） defined by Gibson et al. （1981） and k/（1 ＋e） in large strain analysis is discussed. The results show that, under a constant effective stress, the value of k/（1 ＋e） increases with the initial void ratio. The large strain consolidation coefficient shows the law of segmentation change, which decreases with the increase of the effective stress when the effective stress is less than the remolded yield stress, but increases rapidly with the effective stress when the effective stress is larger than the remolded yield stress.

ONE-DIMENSIONAL CONSOLIDATION OF LAYERED SOILS WITH IMPEDED BOUNDARIES UNDER TIME-DEPENDENT LOADINGS

On the basis of Terzaghi's one-dimensional consolidation theory, the variation of effective stress ratio in layered saturated soils with impeded boundaries under time-dependent loading was studied. By the method of Laplace transform, the solution was presented. Influences of different kinds of cyclic loadings and impeded boundaries conditions were discussed. Through numerical inversion of Laplace transform, useful illustrations were given considering several common time-dependent loadings. Pervious or impervious boundary condition is just the special case of the problem considered here. Compared with average index method,the results from the method illustrated are more accurate.

Study on one—dimensional consolidation of saturated soil with semi—pervious boundaries and under cyclic loading

The variation of effective stress ratio of stratfied soil with semi pervious boundaries and under cyclic loading was analyzed on the basis of Terzaghi's one dimensional consolidation assumptions. A solution by Laplace Transform was obtained for the case when the soil was under time varied loading. With numerical inversion of Laplace Transform, some useful results were obtained for several kinds of commonly encountered loadings. The results can be meaningful in engineering practice.

Effect of NaCl Concentration on the Cumulative Strain and Pore Distribution of Clay under Cyclic Loading

Clay,as the most common soil used for foundationfill,is widely used in various infrastructure projects.The phy-sical and mechanical properties of clay are influenced by the pore solution environment.This study uses a GDS static/dynamic triaxial apparatus and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments to investigate the effects of cyclic loading on clay foundations.Moreover,the development of cumulative strain in clay is analyzed,and afitting model for cumulative plastic strain is introduced by considering factors such as NaCl solution concentration,con-solidation stress ratio,and cycle number.In particular,the effects of the NaCl solution concentration and con-solidation stress ratio on the pore distribution of the test samples before and after cyclic loading are examined,and the relationship between microscopic pore size and macroscopic cumulative strain is obtained accordingly.Our results show that as the consolidation stress ratio grows,an increasing number of large pores in the soil samples are transformed into small pores.As the NaCl solution concentration becomes higher,the number of small pores gradually decreases,while the number of large pores remains unchanged.Cyclic loading causes the disappearance of the large pores in the samples,and the average pore size before cyclic loading is posi-tively correlated with the axial cumulative strain after cyclic loading.The cumulative strain produced by the soil under cyclic loading is inversely proportional to the NaCl solution concentration and consolidation stress ratio.

基于CPTU孔压消散试验的欠固结土OCR计算方法

利用CPTU孔压消散试验数据对欠固结土的欠固结状态进行定量评价,并在此基础上提出基于固结状态参数的欠固结土超固结比计算方法.结合现场CPTU孔压消散试验及室内固结试验对崇启大桥北接线工程沿线③1层软土应力历史进行了研究.结果表明:消散时间足够长时,CPTU孔压消散实验曲线的末端无限逼近原位初始孔压,且消散曲线尾端的实测孔压与时间平方根倒数成线性相关性,提出采用时间平方根倒数外推法计算原位初始孔压.当所计算的原位初始孔压大于静水压力时,则判定软土处于欠固结状态,进而建议采用固结状态参数对软土的欠固结程度进行定量评价,固结状态参数越小,说明欠固结程度越高.根据CPTU孔压消散试验计算了沿线软土③1层(淤泥质粉质黏土)的欠固结程度,然后利用室内固结试验成果验证了其合理性.基于OCR传统计算公式中系数与固结状态参数间定量关系,提出了考虑固结程度的欠固结土OCR计算公式.

Burial depth interval of the shale brittle–ductile transition zone and its implications in shale gas exploration and production

Brittleness and ductility of shale are closely related to shale gas exploration and production. How to predict brittleness and ductility of shale is one of the key issues in the study of shale gas preservation and hydraulic fracturing treatments. The magnitude of shale brittleness was often determined by brittle mineral content(for example, quartz and feldspars) in shale gas exploration.However, the shale brittleness is also controlled by burial depth. Shale brittle/ductile properties such as brittle, semibrittle and ductile can mutually transform with burial depth variation. We established a work flow of determining the burial depth interval of brittle–ductile transition zone for a given shale. Two boundaries were employed to divide the burial depth interval of shale brittle/ductile properties. One is the bottom boundary of the brittle zone(BZ), and the other is the top boundary of the ductile zone(DZ). The brittle–ductile transition zone(BDTZ) is between them.The bottom boundary of BZ was determined by the overconsolidation ratio(OCR) threshold value combined with pre-consolidation stress which the shale experienced over geological time. The top boundary of DZ was determined based on the critical confining pressure of brittle–ductile transition. The OCR threshold value and the critical confining pressure were obtained from uniaxial strain andtriaxial compression tests. The BZ, DZ and BDTZ of the Lower Silurian Longmaxi shale in some representative shale gas exploration wells in eastern Sichuan and western Hubei areas were determined according to the above work flow. The results show that the BZ varies with the maximum burial depth and the DZ varies with the density of the overlying rocks except for the critical confining pressure.Moreover, the BDTZ determined by the above work flow is probably the best burial depth interval for marine shale gas exploration and production in Southern China. Shale located in the BDTZ is semi-brittle and is not prone to be severely naturally fractured but likely to respond well to hydraulic fracturing. The depth interval of BDTZ determined by our work flow could be a valuable parameter of shale gas estimation in geology and engineering.

Coefficient of earth pressure at rest for normal,consolidated soils

In this study consecutive consolidated isotropically drained triaxial tests for the coefficient of earth pressure at rest(K_0) were carried out to investigate its rules of evolution as well as its strength characteristics for normal,consolidated saturated silt under high pressure.The tests results indicate that:1) for normal,consolidated saturated silt,K_0 values increase as the consolidation stress increases at high pressure levels,while the nonlinear characteristics of K_0 are inconspicuous compared to cohesive soils;2) the Jaky and Roscoe equations,used to calculate K_0,are only suitable for certain soils,but cannot represent these values for normal, consolidated saturated silt due to the variation in bilinear strength at high pressure;and 3) there are close relations between the nonlinear characteristics of K_0 and the void ratio,measured in the tests.Both share the same functional form while under pressure. Based on our experimental results,we developed an empirical linear model to interpret the rules of nonlinear variation for the coefficient of earth pressure at rest.

Critical Cyclic Stress Ratio of Undisturbed Saturated Soft Clay in the Yangtze Estuary under Complex Stress Conditions

There exists a critical cyclic stress ratio when sand or clay is subjected to cyclic loading. It is an index dis-tinguishing stable state or failure state. The soil static and dynamic universal triaxial and torsional shear apparatus de-veloped by Dalian University of Technology in China was employed to perform different types of tests on saturated soft marine clay in the Yangtze estuary. Undisturbed samples were subjected to undrained cyclic vertical and torsional coupling shear and cyclic torsional shear after three-directional anisotropic consolidation with different initial consoli-dation parameters. The effects of initial orientation angle of major principal stress, initial ratio of deviatoric stress,initial coefficient of intermediate principal stress and stress mode of cyclic shear on the critical cyclic stress ratio wereinvestigated. It is found that the critical cyclic stress ratio decreases significantly with increasing initial orientation angle of major principal stress and initial ratio of deviatoric stress. Compared with the effects of the initial orientationangle of major principal stress and initial ratio of deviatoric stress, the effect of initial coefficient of intermediate prin-cipal stress is less evident. Under the same consolidation condition, the critical cyclic stress ratio from the cyclic cou-pling shear test is lower than that from the cyclic torsional shear test, indicating that the stress mode of cyclic shear has an obvious effect on the critical cyclic stress ratio. The main reason is that the continuous rotation in principal stressdirections during cyclic coupling shear damages the original structure of soil more than the cyclic torsional shear does.

COMPARISON OF FRESH AND HARDENED PROPERTIES OF SELF-COMPACTING CONCRETE MIXTURE FROM DIFFERENT ASPECT RATIO OF STEEL FIBER VIEW POINT

Self-compacting concrete(SCC)is a type of concrete which is frequently preferred in different applications due to its advantages such as its fluidity and transition in tight openings between steel reinforcing bars.However,it is vital that SCC maintains its fresh state characteristics when its transportation phase is taken into consideration.Fiber reinforced in SCC affects the properties of fresh concrete negatively while it had a positive effect on its dynamic properties.In this study,the effect of steel fibers having different aspect ratios on the time dependent fresh properties and mechani-cal properties of self-compacting concrete mixtures was investigated.In addition to the control mixture without fiber,in the mixtures containing fiber,three different twin-hook steel fibers with aspect ratios of 54,64 and 50 were used as 0.6%of total volume.In all of the SCC mixtures,the water/cement ratio,cement dosage and slump-flow value were kept constant.The time dependent rheological properties of the mixtures were investigated.The compressive,split-tensile and flexural strengths as well as fracture energy,the load deflection relation under flexural load and load-crack opening displacement,modulus of elasticity of SCC mixtures were also investigated.Besides,the water absorption capacity and depth of penetration of water under pressure of mixtures were measured.On the basis of the results,the fiber utilization and its aspect ratio had no significant effect on compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of the SCC mixtures.The split-tensile,flexural strengths and fracture energy of SCC mixtures increased by using fiber;the permeability properties of SCC mixture increased by fiber utilization.

连云港海相软土固结状态及地质成因

软土的固结状态是分析其沉降变形的一个重要指标。为了研究连云港海相软土的固结状态,进行了多组原位十字板剪切(FVT)试验、标准固结试验和金属基索状光缆的沉降监测。结果表明:由于表层作用,导致浅部和深部软土显示出不同的固结状态,固结状态存在一个临界深度(5~6 m)。原位土抗剪强度与埋深的拟合曲线表明视超固结比(OCR_(1))大于1,但这包含了土体结构强度,不能反映土体在地质历史上曾经受过的最大有效应力,临界深度(5m)以上OCR_(1)平均值为1.74,临界深度以下OCR_1平均值为1.01,整体均为轻微超固结土。基于标准固结试验,采用塑状样试验数据计算临界深度以下软土超固结比(OCR_(2)),OCR_(2)小于1,表明其为欠固结土,在地质历史上所遭受的最大有效应力小于现在土体上覆有效应力。FVT试验得出的OCR_(1)值大于标准固结试验得出的OCR_(1),这与室内试验样的扰动和土体应力状态的改变有关,基于室内压缩试验的数据会低估OCR_(1)。基于金属基索状光缆的软土沉降监测数据在深度上的分布规律与软土OCR_(1)分布规律基本一致,OCR_(1)虽不是真正的超固结比,但这一指标直接与工程建设有关。

磷石膏动模量及阻尼比试验研究

近年来,磷石膏废渣的生产和堆积迅速增长,给库区安全以及环境带来不小的隐患。该文利用英国GDS公司的GDS-DYNTTS型微机控制振动三轴试验系统,对杨家箐磷石膏堆场库区不同取土深度下的磷石膏废渣进行动力特性试验,主要针对其在围压较大、偏压固结条件下的动弹性模量E_(d)、阻尼比λ进行较详细的研究。试验结果表明:密度相同条件下,动弹性模量随着固结比和围压的增加而变大,且在动应变ε_(d)增长初期曲线变化率不大,ε_(d)超过0.01%后动弹性模量会迅速减小,再逐渐趋于平缓;利用Kondner模型发现最大动弹性模量倒数和动应变的曲线呈较好的线性关系;对动模量比(E_(d)/E_(d0))曲线进行归一化分析,可以得出动模量与动应变的变化趋势,并且根据Darendeli模型对磷石膏动模量比的衰变阶段进行划分;利用最小二乘法对阻尼比与动弹性模量比λ-Ed/Ed0分布进行拟合,得到归一性较好的经验模型曲线。

SHANSEP试验方法改进与验证

为满足工程实际需要,对SHANSEP试验方法加以改进,将淤泥固结至远大于其前期固结压力后,再逐级卸载以模拟超固结黏土,在不同的超固结比下进行了三轴固结不排水试验。试验表明:等向固结的三轴试验,也能较好地拟合出超固结土不排水强度与正常固结土强度、超固结比之间的关系式;提出了工程地区超固结土不排水强度公式,可推算不同超固结比下的土体强度;通过本次试验中对加荷方式的改进与拓宽,取代了原有k0固结或单剪仪的要求,提高了试验效率、节约成本,且该方法可推广使用到更多土类上,对研究超固结土的性质有一定工程实用意义。

超固结黏土不排水剪切的屈服与临界状态

以研究超固结黏土的屈服与临界状态为目的,通过GDS三轴剪切试验仪(GDS triaxial shear testing apparatus)开展了一系列不同超固结状态的黏土不排水剪切试验。为对黏土的应力路径进行分析,选取了能描述超固结状态不同时土的屈服特性的ALPHA(α)模型。分析了黏土的偏应力/孔压-应变曲线变化趋势,并确定了孔压达到峰值时土体为破坏状态。根据应力破坏点拟合出临界状态线,提出了针对不同超固结比的不排水抗剪强度的计算公式。试验结果表明:不排水剪切试验中,前期固结压力相同时,超固结比越小,抗剪强度越高,但是屈服强度并非随超固结比的降低而单调递增变化;超固结比相同时,前期固结压力越大,抗剪强度越高,屈服强度也越高;正常固结和轻超固结土的破坏应变皆在5%左右,而重超固结土则呈现明显的剪胀现象和脆性破坏,破坏应变小于2.5%;正常固结和轻超固结土的应力路径呈“S”形,重超固结土的应力路径呈不断增长的趋势。根据破坏标准,重超固结土和轻超固结土、正常固结土共用一条临界状态线,不排水抗剪强度计算公式参数较少,易获取,易嵌入本构模型中,应用方便。