• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.33-42
• /
• 2013

In this paper, a series of monotonic undrained shear tests were carried out on four kinds of sand-fine mixtures with various fines content. Two kinds of sands (Silica sand V3, V6) and fines (Iwakuni natural clay, Tottori silt) were mixed together in various proportions, while paying attention to the void ratio expressed in terms of sand structure $(F_c{\leq}F_{cth})$. The undrained shear strength of mixtures below the threshold fines content was observed so that as the plastic fines content increases, maximum deviator stress ratio decrease for dense samples while an increase is noted for loose samples. For non-plastic fines, the increase in the amount of fines leads to an increase in density of the soil, which results in an increase in strength. Then, the monotonic shear strength of the mixtures was estimated using the concept of granular void ratio. It was found that the shear strength of mixtures is greatly dependent on the skeleton structure of sand particles.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.429-438
• /
• 2018

Cone and T-bar penetrometers have been frequently used to estimate the undrained shear strength of clay. For small-size model tests, miniature penetrometers should be used but their correlation factors have not been well published. In this study, a testing setup was developed to derive empirical factors of the miniature cone and T-bar penetrometers. A 350mm-diameter chamber and kaolin clay were utilized to prepare soil specimens consolidated under four different pre-consolidation pressures controlling undrained shear strength. Two miniature cones with two diameters of 10-mm and 16-mm and a T-bar penetrometer with 10-mm diameter were used to investigate boundary effect, penetration rate effect, and diameter and shape effect. Unconsolidated-undrained triaxial tests were carried out with samples taken from the specimens to measure undrained shear strength. Finally, empirical factors for the penetrometers were constructed to correlate tip resistance to undrained shear strength.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2010.09c
• /
• pp.18-23
• /
• 2010

The estimation of the undrained shear strength $s_u$ for clays using CPT results has been mainly based on the cone factor $N_k$. In this study, a new CPT-based method for the estimation of the undrained shear strength $s_u$ is presented. This aims at reducing uncertainties for the estimation of $s_u$ and enhancing the application of CPT results in more effective manner. For this purpose, a site located at a marine clay deposit is selected and test results from extensive experimental testing program are adopted. The new method defines a direct correlation between the undrained shear strength $s_u$ and the cone resistance $q_t$, excluding the procedure of the overburden pressure correction and therefore undisturbed soil sampling process. In order to verify the new CPT-based method, additional test sites and example sites from literature, which consist of a variety of soil conditions, are selected and examined. It is observed that values of su obtained from the proposed method are in good agreements with measured values of $s_u$ for all the selected verification cases.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.93-106
• /
• 2024

The present paper investigates the spatial variability effect of soil property on the three-dimensional probabilistic characteristics of the bearing capacity factor (i.e., mean and coefficient of variation) of a circular footing resting on clayey soil where both mean and standard deviation of undrained shear strength increases with depth, keeping the coefficient of variation constant. The mean trend of undrained shear strength is defined by introducing the dimensionless strength gradient parameter. The finite difference method along with the random field and Monte Carlo simulation technique, is used to execute the numerical analyses. The lognormal distribution is chosen to generate random fields of the undrained shear strength. In the study, the potential failure of the structure is represented through the failure probability. The influences of different vertical scales of fluctuation, dimensionless strength gradient parameters, and coefficient of variation of undrained shear strength on the probabilistic characteristics of the bearing capacity factor and failure probability of the footing, along with the probability and cumulative density functions, are explored in this study. The variations of failure probability for different factors of safety corresponding to different parameters are also illustrated. The results are presented in non-dimensional form as they might be helpful to the practicing engineers dealing with this type of problem.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.73-79
• /
• 2010

In the present study, the loading frequency dependencies of cyclic shear strength and elastic shear modulus of reconstituted clay were examined by performing undrained cyclic triaxial tests and undrained cyclic triaxial tests to determine deformation properties. The result of undrained cyclic triaxial test of reconstituted and saturated clay shows that a faster frequency leads to higher stress amplitude ratio, but when the frequency becomes fast up to a certain point, the stress amplitude ratio will reach its maximum limit and the frequency dependence becomes insignificant. And also, the result of undrained cyclic triaxial deformation test shows a fact that a faster loading frequency leads to higher equivalent shear modules and smaller hysteresis damping ratio, and confirms the frequency dependence of cohesive soil. Meanwhile, the result of the creep test shows that continuing creep is created in the undrained cyclic triaxial test with slow loading frequency rate, and since loading rate becomes slower at the vicinity of the maximum and the minimum deviator stress due to sine wave loading, the vicinity of the maximum and the minimum deviator stress shall be more influenced by creep.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.7-14
• /
• 2003

In this study, undrained shear test was performed$K_o$ consolidation in order to study the shear strength characteristics of oysters-marine clay mixtures for three mixed ratios(0%, 25% and 50%). And, in order to study shear strength characteristics of oysters-marine clay mixtures, three different effective vertical stresses(200, 300 and 400kPa) were applied for the $K_o$ consolidation tests. In addition three different axial strain rates(0.005%/min, 0.05%/min, 0.5%/min) were applied for the case of effective vertical stress, 300kPa. According to experimental results, the more mixed ratios were increased, the more deviator stress was increased by crushing effect of oysters particles. especially, when effective vertical stress is 300kPa and mixed ratio increase from 25% to 50%, Test shows the increase of shear strength. But axial strain rate was not effect on the undrained shear strength. In the comparison and analysis that are based on the values of tests on the oysters-marine clay mixtures and the Mayne & Bishop's empiric formula, the undrained shear strength ratio shows a similar pattern of the tests. But for the prediction of the coefficient of the pore water pressure, the value of empiric formula shows more overestimated than the values of the tests at 0%, mixture ratio.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2008.10a
• /
• pp.1124-1131
• /
• 2008

Thanks to a new in-situ seismic probe, using bender elements and penetration scheme, a simple linear relationship between undrained shear strength(Cu) and shear wave velocity(Vs) was obtained. This priceless relationship is worthy to be illuminated further in ideal laboratory environment. To avoid sampling disturbance effect, special consolidation cylinders were used to make normally consolidated specimens from kaolinite suspension. The undrained shear strengths of the specimens were measured using unconsolidated undrained triaxial compression tests. Also shear wave velocity measurements were performedprior to shearing the same specimens, using the bender elements installed in the base pedestal and the top cap of the triaxial compression cell. The Cu-Vs relationship is fairly linear and supports the linear trend of clayey silt obtained using field testing. Also the classic density-shear modulus relationship for soft clay proposed by Hardin and Black(1969) was once more verified hereby.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2000.11a
• /
• pp.391-398
• /
• 2000

The index properties of cohesive soils play an important role to examine entire tendency of soil properties. Especially, the Atterberg limits have a good correlation with compression and shear strength of cohesive soils. However, these values strongly depend on their testing methods. In this study, for Pusan clays the Atterberg limits were peformed under different conditions; for example, four kinds of specimen preparation, two kinds of testing equipment, and four kinds of estimating method. And a laboratory vane test was peformed to compare the undrained shear strength with that of the fall cone test. As experimental results, the value of liquid limit performed for oven-dried sample, followed in ASTM D4318, underestimated by about 10% compared to those of another three methods, irrespective to the used equipments. But the value of plastic limit was not influenced by sample preparation methods and equipments. The liquid limits by one-point methods(Leroueil et al., 1996; Nagaraj et al., 1981) were agreed well with those of different methods. Finally, the undrained shear strength by laboratory vane test was relatively larger than that of fall cone test, and the relationship between both showed a bad trend.

• Geotechnical Engineering
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.37-50
• /
• 1986

The uncertainties encountered in the stability analysis for the foundation of offshore structures on clay are formulated in probabilistic terms and used to evaluate the reliability of the foundation design. The major sources of uncertainty are: soil properties, f.ave loads, and methods of analysis. The major part of the uncertainty in safety factor is contributed by the uncertainty in the undrained shear strength. All sources of uncertainties that affect the shear strength of clay are modeled and systematically analyzed. The in situ undrained shear strengths are evaluated by laboratory tests and cone penetration tests. The undrained shear strengths from the laboratory test and CPT, respectively at Statfjord B site in the North Sea, are used as an example in risk analysis. Using the CPT alone, the failure probability on sliding of gravity platform at Statfjord B is much larger than the failure probability using the laboratory undrained shear strengths. The major uncertainty of using the CPT as the estimate of th2 undrained shear strength of clay results from the correlation between the cone resistance and the undrained shear strength.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2005.03a
• /
• pp.916-923
• /
• 2005

In this study, to observe aging effect of undrained shear behavior for Nak-Dong River sand, undrained static and cyclic triaxial tests were performed with changing relative density ($D_r$), consolidation stress ratio($K_c$) and consolidation time. As a result of the test, the modulus of elasticity to all samples estimated within elastic zone by the micro strain of about 0.05% in case of static shear behavior increased with the lapse of consolidation time significantly, so aging effect was shown largely. Also strength of phase transformation point(S_{PT}$) and strength of critical stress ratio point($S_{CSR}$) increased with the lapse of consolidation time. Undrained cyclic shear strength($R_f$) obtained from the failure strain 5% increased in proportion to relative density($D_r$) and initial static shear stress($q_{st}$), $R_f$ of consolidated sample for 1,000 minutes increased about 10.6% compared to that for 10 minutes at the loose sand, and $R_f$ increased about 7.0% at the medium sand. In situ application range of $R_f$ to the magnitude of earthquake for Nak-Dong River sand was proposed by using a increasing rate of $R_f$ as being aging effect shown from this test result.