Laboratory Studies on Property Changes in Surrounding Clays Due to Installation of Deep Mixing Columns

This paper has identified six major factors causing property changes in surrounding soils during and after installation of deep mixing columns: soil thixotropy, soil fracturing, cement penetration and diffusion, cementation, consolidation, and heating. Laboratory tests were performed to investigate the effects of soil thixotropy, soil fracturing, and cementation in a soft marine clay, Ariake clay. Laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate property changes in surrounding clays due to installation of deep mixing columns. Test results showed that an influential zone of property changes existed in surrounding clay ranging from the edge of the columns to the distance of about twice the radius of the columns. Within this influential zone, water content decreased as samples neared the columns, while pH values and electric conductivity increased. Test results also showed that undrained shear strengths of the surrounding clays decreased during mixing but regained after a 7-day curing period and continued increasing during 28 days in this study.     

Lime injection technique to improve the behaviour of soft marine clays

Soft marine clay deposits pose several foundation problems and such weak clay deposits have been found both along seacoasts and in offshore areas spread over many parts of the world. We suggest using some chemical injection techniques to improve the engineering behaviour of soft underwater marine clays. A test programme was carried out by injecting lime into a soft marine clay in a test tank. The penetration of lime into the soil was established by taking a number of pH measurements and calcium oxide estimation from samples taken at various radial distances. The improvement in the plasticity characteristics of the soil has been verified by indices tests. Test results indicated the improvement in the strength and reduction in the compressibility of the soil with time. The beneficial changes that occurred in the soil have been attributed to the formation of cementation compounds and these compounds have been identified by using X-ray Diffraction Technique (XRD). The test results show good promise for the use of lime grouting in the treatment of weak marine clayey deposits.     

Sulphate Attack in Lime-Treated Marine Clay

The use of lime to improve the properties of soft clays is not new. Recently the deep lime mixing technique has been extended to coastal regions for improving the behavior of weak marine clays. But lime treatment technique should be approached carefully for clay containing a high percentage of sodium sulphate. The presence of sulphate in lime-treated clays may result in high swelling due to the formation of the expansive mineral, ettringite. A limited study of lime-treated marine clays has shown a need to further explore the formation of ettringite and its stability with time. In this article, a laboratory investigation was carried out to examine the influence of sodium and calcium sulphates on the behavior of lime column treated marine clay. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to identify the formation of various reaction products, including ettringite. Test results indicate that the formation of ettringite in the lime-sodium sulphate-clay system adversely affects the engineering behavior of the marine clay, whereas the addition of calcium sulphate significantly improves the engineering characteristics of the soil.     

Sulphate Attack in Lime-Treated Marine Clay

ABSTRACT

The use of lime to improve the properties of soft clays is not new. Recently the deep lime mixing technique has been extended to coastal regions for improving the behavior of weak marine clays. But lime treatment technique should be approached carefully for clay containing a high percentage of sodium sulphate. The presence of sulphate in lime-treated clays may result in high swelling due to the formation of the expansive mineral, ettringite. A limited study of lime-treated marine clays has shown a need to further explore the formation of ettringite and its stability with time. In this article, a laboratory investigation was carried out to examine the influence of sodium and calcium sulphates on the behavior of lime column treated marine clay. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to identify the formation of various reaction products, including ettringite. Test results indicate that the formation of ettringite in the lime-sodium sulphate-clay system adversely affects the engineering behavior of the marine clay, whereas the addition of calcium sulphate significantly improves the engineering characteristics of the soil.     

Assessment of Compressibility Behavior of Naturally Cemented Soft Clays

It Naturally cemented soft clays have components of strength and stiffness, which cannot be accounted for by classical soil mechanics (Leroueil and Vaughan 1990). This stems from the influence of structure caused by cementation due to environmental factors. It is necessary to evaluate the cementation bond strength at preyield and postyield stress levels of loading, to understand comprehensively the observed response from micromechanic considerations. This helps to better understand and evolve approaches to model the constitutive behavior in a consistent manner, according to the physical phenomenon of formation of cementation as an additional component to what is otherwise normally regarded as frictional behavior arising only from particulate nature of clays. Comparing the behavior of deep deposits of Pusan soft clays under stress with corresponding response of the same clay in its remolded state, it has been possible to take into account particulate and nonparticulate responses. The evolution of cementation bonding is modeled for different Pusan clays with the yield stress in oedometer compression as a normalizing parameter for obtaining the generalized relationship of cementation bonding with increase in stress. The already established model for determining the remolded behavior is appropriately modified to assess the behavior influenced by cementation. The model proposed consists of parameters, which are determined in routine investigations.     

Assessment of Compressibility Behavior of Naturally Cemented Soft Clays

It Naturally cemented soft clays have components of strength and stiffness, which cannot be accounted for by classical soil mechanics (Leroueil and Vaughan 1990). This stems from the influence of structure caused by cementation due to environmental factors. It is necessary to evaluate the cementation bond strength at preyield and postyield stress levels of loading, to understand comprehensively the observed response from micromechanic considerations. This helps to better understand and evolve approaches to model the constitutive behavior in a consistent manner, according to the physical phenomenon of formation of cementation as an additional component to what is otherwise normally regarded as frictional behavior arising only from particulate nature of clays. Comparing the behavior of deep deposits of Pusan soft clays under stress with corresponding response of the same clay in its remolded state, it has been possible to take into account particulate and nonparticulate responses. The evolution of cementation bonding is modeled for different Pusan clays with the yield stress in oedometer compression as a normalizing parameter for obtaining the generalized relationship of cementation bonding with increase in stress. The already established model for determining the remolded behavior is appropriately modified to assess the behavior influenced by cementation. The model proposed consists of parameters, which are determined in routine investigations.     

A Combined Dry Jet Mixing-Prefabricated Vertical Drain Method for Soft Ground Improvement: A Case Study

A remarkable combined dry jet mixing (DJM) and prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) method was used to enhance the performance for soft ground improvement. In the combined method, PVDs are first installed and then DJM columns are installed between the PVDs at larger spacing. This combined method improves the effectiveness of the ground improvement and creates a more economical solution. This paper presents a case study of the combined method for marine clay improvement in Lianyugang of China. The excess pore water pressure in soils created by the installation of DJM columns with and without PVDs was monitored and compared. In situ standard penetration tests were conducted in the DJM columns and before-and-after piezocone penetration tests were performed in soils surrounding the columns. Long-term settlement monitoring under embankment loading was carried out for the ground improved by combined method and DJM method alone. The field tests, settlement monitoring and economic benefit analysis results demonstrated that the DJM-PVD method is technologically sound and cost-effective as compared with the conventional DJM method.     

Engineering behaviour of MICP treated marine clays

Abstract

In the present scenario, with much focus on sustainable development worldwide, Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) is a promising biological soil improvement technology. However, only very limited research is reported on the effectiveness of this technique in marine clays. This paper presents the salient features of an experimental study conducted on two typical marine clays stabilised by MICP. Effectiveness of the technique was evaluated through a series of one-dimensional consolidation tests, unconfined compression tests, and index property determinations. It is found that biostimulation approach is not effective in marine clay; bio-augmentation is needed for soil improvement. Bio-augmentation results in the reduction of liquid limit and plasticity index to about 29% and 47%, respectively for the marine clays. A comparable improvement in volume change behaviour is also observed. There is a marked increase in undrained shear strength, upto about 148%, of MICP treated marine clays at toughness limit water content. Curing is also found to have a significant role in soil improvement. The observed transition in the nature of the tested marine clays from that of fat clay to elastic silt suggests the potential of the proposed approach. An empirical equation is also proposed to predict compression index of MICP treated marine clays.     

Measured and calculated spudcan penetration profiles for case histories in sand-over-clay

This paper reports five case histories of jack-up rig installation in layered soil profiles where a dominate feature was a stronger sand layer overlaying a weaker clay layer. In all cases a relatively continuous load-penetration profile was measured during installation of each of the three spudcan foundations. Summary site-investigation data is provided and consisted of mainly torvane, minature vane, unconsolidated undrained triaxial and pocket penetrometer tests for determining undrained shear strength of the clays and blow counts for deriving the relative density of sand. A statistical averaging method recommended in the InSafeJIP guidelines was used to provide the best fit of the undrained shear strength profile in the clay as this then allowed for spudcan load-penetration profiles to be estimated without introduction of user interpretation or bias. Sand properties were taken as provided in the original site-investigation report. Comparisons between load-penetration profiles calculated using the industry-standard ISO guideline, more recently proposed mechanism-based calculation method and three-dimensional large deformation finite element simulations are made with the measured data, leading to valuable insights for practitioners for estimating behaviour of jack-up installations in problematic sand-over-clay soil profiles.     

Compressibility behaviour of lime-treated marine clay

The necessity to tap natural marine resources from the ocean beds represents a considerable challenge for the construction of offshore structures on weak marine deposits. The use of lime to improve the behaviour of soft clays is not new. The present investigation examines lime-induced changes in the compressibility of marine clay. The test results indicate a reduction of 1/2 to 1/3 in the compressibility of the soil system within 30 to 45 days of treatment. The formation of various cementation compounds due to soil–lime reactions improves the soil characteristics with time. The results encourage the application of lime column and lime injection techniques to improve the engineering behaviour of soft marine clayey deposits. However, one has to be cautious in applying the lime technique to marine clays that contain sodium sulfate.     

Consolidation and creep behaviors of two typical marine clays in China

This paper presents an experimental investigation into the deformation characteristics of two typical marine clays obtained from Dalian and Shanghai, respectively, in China. Three kinds of laboratory tests, i.e. conventional oedometer tests, one-dimensional and triaxial creep tests were carried out. The results obtained from consolidation tests demonstrate linear v e ？ log？ relationships for Shanghai clay at normally consolidated state, while partly or even global non-linearrelationships for Dalian clay. The compression index c C for both clays follows the correlation of Cc=0.009（WL-10）where WL is the liquid limit of soil. The relationship between v log Kv （ Kv is the hydraulic conductivity of soil） and voidratio e is generally linear and the hydraulic conductivity change index kv C can be described by their initial void ratio forboth clays. The secondary compressibility of Dalian clay lies in medium to high range and is higher than that of Shanghaiclay which lies in the range of low to medium. Furthermore, based on drained triaxial creep tests, the stress-strain-timerelationships following Mesri＇s creep equation have been developed for Dalian and Shanghai clays which can predict thelong-term deformation of both clays reasonably well.     

Enhancing the mechanical properties of marine clay using cement solidification

Abstract

The use of soft clay and dredged marine clays as the construction material is challenging. This is because the high water content, high compressibility and low permeability of the clay causing the instability of ground and structure. This detrimental effect of soft clay can be improved by the cement solidification process, which is relatively cheap and efficient. This paper mainly focuses on the study of improvement on the mechanical behavior of cement mixed marine clay. The soil is reconstituted by using ordinary Portland cement of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% by its mass. The study reveals that cementation of clay significantly improves the peak and residual strength of soil. Similarly, the primary yield stress of the soil is also improved from 16 to 275?kPa as cement content increases from 5% to 20%, respectively. By using statistical tools, the relationships between various parameters are established, which are very important to define the mechanical behavior of the clay. This study reveals that the yield surface of the solidified marine clay is not a smooth elliptical surface. Rather it is composed of two linear surfaces followed by a log-linear surface which can be modeled by using simple parameters obtained from triaxial tests.     

A Laboratory model study on the performance of lime pile application for marine soils

In this study, research was conducted to examine the performance of the lime pile application, a deep chemical stabilization method to improve the engineering characteristics of marine soil deposits. By using a laboratory-scale model, the marine soil sample was compacted into soil blocks in circular steel test tanks, with the installation of lime piles in them. An experimental program examined the effect of lime piles on physical and engineering properties of the soil in terms of curing periods and lime pile radial distances. Test results showed that clay fines, linear shrinkage, compressibility, and swelling pressure decreased, while permeability, preconsolidation pressure, and stiffness increased significantly with an increase in curing periods and within a close distance to the lime piles. Also, the electrical resistivity of the treated soils was examined to monitor the changes in their electrical properties. Finally, the correlation between the measured electrical resistivity and swell pressure values of the tested soils at different curing periods suggested that the electrical resistivity values can be used as a monitoring technique for deep chemical treatments of the subsurface soil.     

Pollutants behaviour and temperature effect on chemical piles treated marine clay

Weak marine clay deposits are present in several regions of the world and they are imposing severe problems for structures founded in these deposits. The use of chemicals lime to improve the properties of these soft deposits is not new. In the present investigation, a test programme was carried out to study the influence of temperature on the engineering behaviour of chemical piles treated clays in the presence of sulphate and chloride contaminated marine environment. The formation of various cementation compounds due to soil-lime reactions were identified by X-ray diffraction studies, and the attributed changes occurred in the engineering properties of the soil systems were also brought out. The test results indicated that the increase in temperature has improved the engineering properties of soil significantly.     

Comparative performances of two- and three-dimensional analyses of soil-cement mixing columns under an embankment load

Abstract

This research presents measurements and simulations of the full-scale behavior of a test embankment built on a soft marine clay deposit improved using soil–cement mixing (SCM) columns in Bangkok, Thailand, using both two-dimensional (2D) and 3D finite element analyses (FEAs). Fixed SCM columns with two different installation patterns, that is, column groups and column rows, were constructed in the soft clay foundation prior to the construction of the embankment. Three column wall methods, namely, equivalent width, equivalent axial rigidity, and equivalent flexural rigidity approaches, were used to convert the 3D individual columns into 2D plane strain column walls. A comparison of the results obtained through the 3D and 2D FEAs revealed that the 2D analyses provide inaccurate results in terms of the column lateral movements, bending moments, and axial loads induced in the SCM columns in addition to the factors of safety against slope failure. This outcome occurred because the actual columns in the 2D FEA were modeled using extended walls, which essentially prevent the movements of soil between two columns or column rows. Correction factors used to convert the 2D analysis results into 3D analysis results were also proposed in this study.     

Lime migration studies in marine clays

Weak marine clay deposits are present in several regions of the world and they are imposing severe problems for structures founded in these deposits. The use of lime to improve the properties of these soft deposits is not new. In the present investigation, a test programme was carried out to study the migration of lime into the marine clay from the installed lime columns and lime slurry injected points. The formation of various cementation compounds due to soil-lime reactions were identified by X-ray diffraction studies and the attributed changes occurring in the engineering properties of the soil systems were studied. The test results indicate that a sufficient amount of lime is diffused into the soil systems with time and the presence of excessive sodium ions in sea water does not retard the effective penetration of lime into the soil. It is suggested that both the lime-column and lime-injection techniques can be conveniently used to improve the behaviour of soft marine clayey deposits. For weak marine clays under large depths of water, the lime-injection technique is better suited.     

Trace-element distribution in the continental-shelf sediments off the east coast of India

Thirty continental-shelf clays sampled off the east coast of India have been analysed spectrographically to determine the concentrations of Ge, Ga, Pb, Cu, Mo, Sn, V, Ni, Co, Zr, Cr, Ba, Sr and B. Most of these elements are detrital in origin and are primarily held up in clay minerals or adsorbed onto the clays in the nearshore mixing zone. Organic matter influences the concentrations of Ge, Sn, and to a lesser extent, Ga and Pb in the shelf.     

Numerical analysis of suction embedded plate anchors in structured clay

As offshore energy developments move towards deeper water, moored floating production facilities are increasingly preferred to fixed structures. Anchoring systems are therefore of great interest to engineers working on deep water developments. Suction embedded plate anchors (SEPLAs) are rapidly becoming a popular solution, possessing a more accurate and predictable installation process compared to traditional alternatives. In this paper, finite element analysis has been conducted to evaluate the ultimate pullout capacity of SEPLAs in a range of post-keying configurations. Previous numerical studies of anchor pullout capacity have generally treated the soil as an elastic-perfectly plastic medium. However, the mechanical behaviour of natural clays is affected by inter-particle bonding, or structure, which cannot be accounted for using simple elasto-plastic models. Here, an advanced constitutive model formulated within the kinematic hardening framework is used to accurately predict the degradation of structure as an anchor embedded in a natural soft clay deposit is loaded to its pullout capacity. In comparison with an idealised, non-softening clay, the degradation of clay structure due to plastic strains in the soil mass results in a lower pullout capacity factor, a quantity commonly used in design, and a more complex load–displacement relationship. It can be concluded that clay structure has an important effect on the pullout behaviour of plate anchors.     

Numerical study of effect of fluke inclination on behavior of drag anchor in clay with linearly increasing shear strength under unidirectional and combined loading

Drag anchor is a widely used anchor type in offshore engineering for the mooring system. The prediction of the anchor trajectory installation and the final position is important for anchor selection in design. The existing method using yield envelope method for trajectory prediction ignored the shallow anchor behavior but applied the deep yield envelope from a deeply embedded horizontal fluke in uniform clay for the whole drag-in installation process. However, the anchor fluke embedment depth and inclination angle change continually during installation in clay with linearly increasing shear strength soil profile in practice. Studies on the effect of fluke inclination angle on the anchor behavior in clay with such non-uniform soil profile under unidirectional and combined loading are important and necessary for the improvement of the yield envelope method to ensure a reasonable prediction. The current 2D finite element studies investigate the anchor behavior for inclined fluke in clay with linearly increasing shear strength under unidirectional vertical, horizontal and rotational loadings first. Then the effects of the fluke inclination angle, soil non-homogeneity and embedment depth ratio on the shallow yield envelopes are investigated. It is found that the effect of fluke inclination angle on the vertical capacity factors for anchor in clay with non-uniform and uniform soil profile is largely different. The resultant large impact on the yield envelopes shown here illustrates the importance of considering the fluke inclination angle and soil non-homogeneity in the prediction of anchor trajectory using yield envelope method.     

Reservoir characteristics and their effects on hydrocarbon accumulation in lacustrine turbidites in the Jiyang Super-depression,Bohai Bay Basin,China

A great difference exists between the hydrocarbon charging characteristics of different Tertiary lacustrine turbidites in the Jiyang Super-depression of the Bohai Bay Basin, east China. Based on wireline log data, core observation and thin-section analyses, this study presents detailed reservoir property data and their controlling effects from several case studies and discusses the geological factors that govern the hydrocarbon accumulation in turbidite reservoirs. The lacustrine fluxoturbidite bodies investigated are typically distributed in an area of 0.5–10 km², with a thickness of 5–20 m. The sandstones of the Tertiary turbidites in the Jiyang Super-depression have been strongly altered diagenetically by mechanical compaction, cementation and mineral dissolution. The effect of compaction caused the porosity to decrease drastically with the burial depths, especially during the early diagenesis when the porosity was reduced by over 15%. The effect of cementation and mineral dissolution during the late-stage diagenesis is dominated by carbonate cementation in sandstones. High carbonate cement content is usually associated with low porosity and permeability. Carbonate dissolution (secondary porosity zone) and primary calcite dissolution is believed to be related to thermal maturation of organic matter and clay mineral reactions in the surrounding shales and mudstone. Two stages of carbonate cementation were identified: the precipitation from pore-water during sedimentation and secondary precipitation in sandstones from the organic acid-dissolved carbonate minerals from source rocks. Petrophysical properties have controlled hydrocarbon accumulation in turbidite sandstones: high porosity and permeability sandstones have high oil saturation and are excellent producing reservoirs. It is also noticed that interstitial matter content affects the oil-bearing property to some degree. There are three essential elements for high oil-bearing turbidite reservoirs: excellent pore types, low carbonate cement (<5%) and good petrophysical properties with average porosity >15% and average permeability >10 mD.