This work presents a study on the behaviors of diatomaceous soils. Although studies are rarely reported on these soils, they have been identified in Mexico City, the Sea of Japan, the northeast coast of Australia,the ...This work presents a study on the behaviors of diatomaceous soils. Although studies are rarely reported on these soils, they have been identified in Mexico City, the Sea of Japan, the northeast coast of Australia,the equatorial Pacific, and the lacustrine deposit of Bogota(Colombia), among other locations. Features of this kind of soil include high friction angle, high initial void ratio, high compressibility index, high liquid limit, and low density. Some of these features are counterintuitive from a classical soil mechanics viewpoint. To understand the geotechnical properties of the diatomaceous soil, a comprehensive experimental plan consisting of more than 2400 tests was performed, including physical tests such as grain size distribution, Atterberg limits, density of solid particles, and organic matter content; and mechanical tests such as oedometric compression tests, unconfined compression tests, and triaxial tests.Laboratory tests were complemented with scanning electron microscope(SEM) observations to evaluate the microstructure of the soil. The test results show that there is an increase in liquid limit with increasing diatomaceous content, and the friction angle also increases with increasing diatomaceous content. In addition, several practical correlations were proposed for this soil type for shear strength mobilization and intrinsic compression line. Finally, useful correlations were presented, such as the relationship between the state consistency and the undrained shear strength, the friction angle and the liquid limit, the void ratio at 100 kPa and the liquid limit, the plasticity index and the diatomaceous content, among others.展开更多
This paper presents the results from a case study highlighting the difficulties of pile driving in diatomaceous soils.In the companion(first)paper to this article,results of an extensive laboratory and in situ testing...This paper presents the results from a case study highlighting the difficulties of pile driving in diatomaceous soils.In the companion(first)paper to this article,results of an extensive laboratory and in situ testing program were presented while the results from pile driving and further analysis of field observations were presented herein.Unexpected high pile rebound(HPR)was observed during driving of a closed-end pipe pile,with refusal occurring at a depth of less than 5 m.Subsequent open-ended piles were thus driven.Piezometer and case pile wave analysis program(CAPWAP)data were collected during driving of both closed-and open-end piles.Piezometer data indicated that negative pore water pressures(PWPs)were generated while the closed-ended pile exhibited high rebound.Results from in situ tests indicated change in material stiffness and strong dilative tendencies near the depth of refusal.A hypothesis for observed behavior was proposed that considers the soil beneath the pile as a medium with an effectively infinite bulk modulus.展开更多
Diatomaceous soils are comprised of the silica frustules of diatom microalgae that are present in marine and lacustrine environments throughout the world.Owing to their unique origin,diatomaceous soils are typically c...Diatomaceous soils are comprised of the silica frustules of diatom microalgae that are present in marine and lacustrine environments throughout the world.Owing to their unique origin,diatomaceous soils are typically characterized by high intraparticle porosity,complex particle shapes,and uniform mineralogy,causing them to exhibit atypical physical and engineering behaviors.A substantial deposit of diatomaceous silt was observed during site exploration for construction of the Buck Creek Bridge on OR140 near Klamath Falls,OR,USA.A comprehensive laboratory and in situ testing program indicated that the diatomaceous soil possessed“non-textbook”engineering properties.Specifically,tested samples had high liquid limits(≈100%-140%)with natural water contents at or near the liquid limit.Geologically,the soil is expected to be normally consolidated,yet high apparent overconsolidation ratios(OCR)(≈15-40)were observed both in oedometric consolidation tests and through cone penetration test(CPT)correlations.Standard penetration test(SPT)results show a corrected standard penetration resistance consistent with a medium-dense sand(i.e.(N1)_(60)≈25).CPT results include corrected tip resistances(qt)of approximately 7-10 MPa and excess pore pressures(u_(2))of up to 4 MPa.In CPT dissipation tests,pore water pressures(PWPs)returned to hydrostatic pressure in less than 1 h.In this work,we synthesize these seemingly disparate material properties in an attempt to infer appropriate engineering properties for the diatomaceous deposit at the Buck Creek Bridge and attempt to provide insight into the underlying reasons for the observed behavior.展开更多
文摘This work presents a study on the behaviors of diatomaceous soils. Although studies are rarely reported on these soils, they have been identified in Mexico City, the Sea of Japan, the northeast coast of Australia,the equatorial Pacific, and the lacustrine deposit of Bogota(Colombia), among other locations. Features of this kind of soil include high friction angle, high initial void ratio, high compressibility index, high liquid limit, and low density. Some of these features are counterintuitive from a classical soil mechanics viewpoint. To understand the geotechnical properties of the diatomaceous soil, a comprehensive experimental plan consisting of more than 2400 tests was performed, including physical tests such as grain size distribution, Atterberg limits, density of solid particles, and organic matter content; and mechanical tests such as oedometric compression tests, unconfined compression tests, and triaxial tests.Laboratory tests were complemented with scanning electron microscope(SEM) observations to evaluate the microstructure of the soil. The test results show that there is an increase in liquid limit with increasing diatomaceous content, and the friction angle also increases with increasing diatomaceous content. In addition, several practical correlations were proposed for this soil type for shear strength mobilization and intrinsic compression line. Finally, useful correlations were presented, such as the relationship between the state consistency and the undrained shear strength, the friction angle and the liquid limit, the void ratio at 100 kPa and the liquid limit, the plasticity index and the diatomaceous content, among others.
文摘This paper presents the results from a case study highlighting the difficulties of pile driving in diatomaceous soils.In the companion(first)paper to this article,results of an extensive laboratory and in situ testing program were presented while the results from pile driving and further analysis of field observations were presented herein.Unexpected high pile rebound(HPR)was observed during driving of a closed-end pipe pile,with refusal occurring at a depth of less than 5 m.Subsequent open-ended piles were thus driven.Piezometer and case pile wave analysis program(CAPWAP)data were collected during driving of both closed-and open-end piles.Piezometer data indicated that negative pore water pressures(PWPs)were generated while the closed-ended pile exhibited high rebound.Results from in situ tests indicated change in material stiffness and strong dilative tendencies near the depth of refusal.A hypothesis for observed behavior was proposed that considers the soil beneath the pile as a medium with an effectively infinite bulk modulus.
基金This work was funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation(ODOT),which is gratefully acknowledged.
文摘Diatomaceous soils are comprised of the silica frustules of diatom microalgae that are present in marine and lacustrine environments throughout the world.Owing to their unique origin,diatomaceous soils are typically characterized by high intraparticle porosity,complex particle shapes,and uniform mineralogy,causing them to exhibit atypical physical and engineering behaviors.A substantial deposit of diatomaceous silt was observed during site exploration for construction of the Buck Creek Bridge on OR140 near Klamath Falls,OR,USA.A comprehensive laboratory and in situ testing program indicated that the diatomaceous soil possessed“non-textbook”engineering properties.Specifically,tested samples had high liquid limits(≈100%-140%)with natural water contents at or near the liquid limit.Geologically,the soil is expected to be normally consolidated,yet high apparent overconsolidation ratios(OCR)(≈15-40)were observed both in oedometric consolidation tests and through cone penetration test(CPT)correlations.Standard penetration test(SPT)results show a corrected standard penetration resistance consistent with a medium-dense sand(i.e.(N1)_(60)≈25).CPT results include corrected tip resistances(qt)of approximately 7-10 MPa and excess pore pressures(u_(2))of up to 4 MPa.In CPT dissipation tests,pore water pressures(PWPs)returned to hydrostatic pressure in less than 1 h.In this work,we synthesize these seemingly disparate material properties in an attempt to infer appropriate engineering properties for the diatomaceous deposit at the Buck Creek Bridge and attempt to provide insight into the underlying reasons for the observed behavior.
