• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.349-359
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• 2011

The consolidation behavior of soft clay is controlled mainly by its compressibility and deformation characteristics. Soil permeability depends on various soil characteristics, including the soil type and anisotropy. The coefficient of permeability of soft clay is determined by using a laboratory test (the Oedometer test) or a piezocone test. The latter test is useful for estimating the permeability characteristics from $c_h$ and $k_h$ by performing an excess pore-pressure dissipation test. This study seeks to validate an existing theoretical formula in applying it to marine clay, and to assess the relation between $k_h/k_c$ and the mechanical properties of soft clay. Piezocone tests and laboratory tests were performed using sediment from the Yellow Sea and from the South Sea near Korea. We compared $k_h/k_v$ values obtained using the piezocone test and using laboratory consolidation tests. The obtained values are similar to the values obtained by Jamiolkowski et al. (M application); therefore, the latter values are recommended to be used as $k_h/k_v$.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.311-320
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• 2003

The coefficient of consolidation of clay deposit is one of the most important properties in the design of ground improvement. The in-situ value of $c_h$ is generally estimated by pore pressure dissipation using piezocone. Many researchers have suggested theoretical formula for its estimation. This study attempts to find out the validity of the existing theoretical formula in Korea and to find out the characteristics of $c_h$ related to the mechanical properties of clay. Piezocone tests and laboratory tests were performed at the site of pilot project of ground improvement at Yangsan-Mulgeum, Gyeongnam. Comparison of the estimated values of $c_h$using piezocone tests results and those from laboratory consolidation tests are carried out. Results show that Torstensson(cylindrical cavity theory) and Teh & Houlsby solutions derive similar values of $c_h$. And $c_h$ from oedometer test shows values similar to the above two methods. The value from either of the above two methods[Torstensson(cylindrical) or Teh & Houlsby] is recommended to be used as $c_h$.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.47-54
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• 2011

Consolidation behavior of soft clay is generally to be affected by its compressibility and deformation characteristics. Especially, soil permeability depends on soil characteristics including its type of anisotropy. Coefficient of permeability of soft clay is mostly estimated by using laboratory(Oedometer test) and in-stiu piezocone test. The permeability characteristics of soft clay is estimated by excess pore pressure dissipation test results. In this study, the tests were performed to find out the validity of the existing theoretical formula in clay by pore pressure dissipation test and laboratory test results. After grasping of variation the coefficient of permeability ratio(${k_{h}/k_{v}}$) in different clay soils, it was found out adequate solution of in-stiu permeability ratio(${k_{h}/k_{v}}$). Piezocone tests and laboratory tests were performed at the site of pilot project of ground improvement at Yangsan-Mulgeum, Gyeongsangnam-do. Comparisons of the estimated values of ${k_{h}/k_{v}}$ using piezocone tests results and those from laboratory consolidation tests were carried out. Test results show that values of ${k_{h}/k_{v}}$ by piezocone test result(5.85) is similar of it's laboratory test(5.28).

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.145-154
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• 2003

In this study, the variation in excess pore pressure during dissipation is estimated by using successive cavity expansion theory and finite difference technique based on axisymmetric uncoupled linear consolidation theory with separate consideration of magnitude and initial distribution $\Delta{u}_{oct}$induced by changes of octahedral normal stress, and $\Delta{u}_{shear}$ induced by changes of octahedral shear stress. The coefficient of consolidation is also estimated by trial and error procedure until the predicted dissipation curve matches the measured curve at a typical degree of dissipation. The proposed method is applied to the results of miniature piezocone tests at Louisiana State University calibration chamber system. Based on the results of interpretation and the comparison with experimental measurements and those from other solutions, the prediction dissipation curves show a good match with those measured during dissipation tests and the values of coefficient of consolidation estimated by proposed method are more close to the range of laboratory measurements than those of other theories.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.229-236
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• 1997

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.95-108
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• 1997

For normally consolidated clay, several researchers have developed a number of theoretical time factors to determine the coefficient of consolidation However, depending on the assumptions and analytical techniques, it could considerably vary even for a specific degree of consolidation. In this paper, a method is proposed to determine a consistent coefficient of consolidation over all ranges of degree of consolidation by applying the concept of the Optimum Design Technique. The initial excess pore pressure distribution is assumed to be obtainable by the successive spherical cavity expansion theory. The dissipation of pore pressure is simulated by means of two dimensional linear-uncoupled axisymmetric consolidation analysis. The minimization of the differences between the measured and the predicted excess pore pressures was carried by BFGS unconstrained optimum design algorithm with one dimensional golden section search technique. By analyzing numerical and real field examples, it can be found that the adopted optimum technique gives a consistent and convergent results.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.141-150
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• 1998

Based on the authors' previous research, we have conducted more researches on finding out the coefficient of consolidation from Piezocone dissipation test results, especially measured behind the cone tip which is mostly used in Korea, by adopting the optimization technique. By analyzing numerical and real field examples, it can be found that the adopted optimum technique that minimizes the differences between the predicted dissipation curve and the measured one gives consistent and convergent results, irrespective of initial values. Such technique also provides horizontal coefficient of consolidation which is able to simulate real field consolidation behavior more effectively.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.45-56
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• 1998

In order to select a proper ground improvement technology and to assess the quality and rate of improvement in the soft deposits. it is essential to characterize in-situ properties of the soft marine clay layer that may have many thin silt or sand seams. In this paper, both piezocone and flat dilatometer tests were performed to characterize in situ properties of a marine clay. Both tests provided quite similar site classifications, and in both tests the penetration pore water pressure was the better indicator for the classification of marine clay layer, especially in which sand or silt seams are frequently interbedded. Undrained strengths determined by both the cone tip resistance and the excess pore water pressure measured from piezocone were very similar in clayey soil layers. And the untrained strength determined by dilatometer had an approximately average value of undiained strengths obtained from piezocone. In addition, the theoretical time factor that can consider pore pressure dissipation effect during cone penetration may provide a reliable estimation of the coefficient of consolidation, especially for a coastal site which includes many silt or sand fractions or seams.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1998.04a
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• pp.37-46
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• 1998

Several researchers have developed a number of theoretical time factors to determine the coefficient of consolidation by biezocone excess pore water dissipation test in soft clay deposits. However, depending on the assumptions and analytical techniques, the estimated coefficient of consolidation could be in a considerably wide range even for a specific degree of consolidation. These solutions are obtained from an initial excess porewater pressure distribution which can be determined from. either the cavity expansion theory or the strain path method. The 야ssipation of the initial excess porelvater pressure has been usally simulated by means of linear-uncoupled consolidation analysis and then the dissipation curve is normalized by the initial excess porewater pressure for easy use. However. since there is no guidelines or rules on which method gives the best solution for obtaining the coefficient of consolidation from the dissipation curve, the final selection was only based on engineer's extrience and Judgements. Thus, such an arbitrary selection might be inappropriate for a specific site to characterize the consolidation behavior. In this paper, we reviewed various theoretical time factors and, based on this consideration, we mentioned needs for researches in selecting a specific solution that is compatible for Korean clays. Also we listed some source of errors that can be encountered in the procedure of dissipation analysis.