Geological and Geotechnical Characteristics of Marine Clays at the Busan New Port

ABSTRACT

Despite a number of geotechnical investigations that have been carried out in the Busan new port area of South Korea, the local practicing engineers have been unable to deduce successfully the geotechnical properties of the clays due to their spatial variation. In the area, clay deposits, so-called Pusan clays, are unusually thick, varying from 20 m to 70 m in thickness. For this study, comprehensive geological and geotechnical investigations were carried out with sophisticated sampling techniques, in situ and laboratory tests as well as geological analyses at an additional three locations. As a result of the investigations, it was found that depositional environments are closely related to the relative changes in sea level and have different features depending on location and depth. The clays consist of soft and stiff clays in the upper and the lower layers, respectively, which are classified as normally consolidated and cemented clay. Moreover, most of the geotechnical properties undergo small changes due to their depositional environment. Information about these effects would be quite helpful to understand the spatial variation of geotechnical properties as well as the effect of sample disturbance. Some correlations which reflect the geological history of the deposts were conducted for physical indexes and mechanical properties.     

Strength Sensitivity of Marine Ariake Clays

Natural Ariake clays are characterized by high sensitivity. In this study, the mechanism and the factors controlling undrained shear strengths of both undisturbed and remolded Ariake clays are discussed. A series of unconfined compressive tests were performed on undisturbed samples of natural Ariake clays. The remolded undrained shear strength is predicted using a quantitative expression derived from extensive data of remolded undrained shear strength for a number of soils compiled from resources in the literature. The sensitivity of natural Ariake clays derived from the ratio of half of unconfined compressive strength for undisturbed samples to remolded undrained shear strength is found to be affected by both natural water content and normalized water content that is defined as the ratio of natural water content to liquid limit. The smaller the natural water content, the higher the sensitivity is at the same normalized water content. At the same natural water content, the larger the normalized water content, the higher the sensitivity is.     

Strength Sensitivity of Marine Ariake Clays

ABSTRACT

Natural Ariake clays are characterized by high sensitivity. In this study, the mechanism and the factors controlling undrained shear strengths of both undisturbed and remolded Ariake clays are discussed. A series of unconfined compressive tests were performed on undisturbed samples of natural Ariake clays. The remolded undrained shear strength is predicted using a quantitative expression derived from extensive data of remolded undrained shear strength for a number of soils compiled from resources in the literature. The sensitivity of natural Ariake clays derived from the ratio of half of unconfined compressive strength for undisturbed samples to remolded undrained shear strength is found to be affected by both natural water content and normalized water content that is defined as the ratio of natural water content to liquid limit. The smaller the natural water content, the higher the sensitivity is at the same normalized water content. At the same natural water content, the larger the normalized water content, the higher the sensitivity is.     

Gravitational Sedimentation Behavior of Sensitive Marine Ariake Clays

It has been well documented that natural marine Ariake clays are sensitive clays. In this study, extensive data of marine Ariake clays are obtained to investigate the gravitational compression behavior for sensitive clays. Analysis results indicate that the compression behavior of remolded Ariake clays is not different from that of other remolded/reconstituted soils. But natural Ariake clays do not follow the gravitational compression pattern reported by Skempton (1970) for natural sedimentary soils. At a given value of effective overburden pressure, the void ratios of natural Ariake clays are almost independent of liquid limits. Most natural Ariake clays lie above the sedimentation compression line proposed by Burland (1990). When the liquid limit is larger than 90% and the ratio of natural water content over liquid limit ranges 0.8-1.1, the natural Ariake clays lie around the sedimentation compression line. In addition, the natural Ariake clay with higher value of the ratio of natural water content over liquid limit lies above the natural Ariake clay with lower value of the ratio of natural water content over liquid limit. Salt removal is the most probable cause for such a phenomenon.     

Gravitational Sedimentation Behavior of Sensitive Marine Ariake Clays

It has been well documented that natural marine Ariake clays are sensitive clays. In this study, extensive data of marine Ariake clays are obtained to investigate the gravitational compression behavior for sensitive clays. Analysis results indicate that the compression behavior of remolded Ariake clays is not different from that of other remolded/reconstituted soils. But natural Ariake clays do not follow the gravitational compression pattern reported by Skempton (1970) Skempton, A. W. 1970. “The consolidation of clays by gravitational compaction”. In Q. J. Geol. Soc 373–411.  [Google Scholar] for natural sedimentary soils. At a given value of effective overburden pressure, the void ratios of natural Ariake clays are almost independent of liquid limits. Most natural Ariake clays lie above the sedimentation compression line proposed by Burland (1990) Burland, J. B. 1990. On the compressibility and shear strength of natural clays. Gèotechnique, 40: 329–378. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]. When the liquid limit is larger than 90% and the ratio of natural water content over liquid limit ranges 0.8–1.1, the natural Ariake clays lie around the sedimentation compression line. In addition, the natural Ariake clay with higher value of the ratio of natural water content over liquid limit lies above the natural Ariake clay with lower value of the ratio of natural water content over liquid limit. Salt removal is the most probable cause for such a phenomenon.     

Clay Minerals and Geotechnical Index Properties of Marine Clays in East Asia

Clay mineral composition and geotechnical index properties of marine clays collected from Singapore, Korea, and Japan were investigated, and the correlation of clay mineral composition with the consistency limits and activity of the clays was examined. Predominant clay minerals were kaolinite for Singapore clay, kaolinite, vermiculite, and illite for Pusan clay, and smectite for Hachirogata and Ariake clay from Japan. The activity of clay indicates that Singapore clay is classified as normal or inactive, Pusan clay as normal, and Hachirogata and Ariake clays mostly as active. Significant positive correlations were found between smectite percentage in bulk soil and the liquid and plastic limits of the clays.     

Clay Minerals and Geotechnical Index Properties of Marine Clays in East Asia

Clay mineral composition and geotechnical index properties of marine clays collected from Singapore, Korea, and Japan were investigated, and the correlation of clay mineral composition with the consistency limits and activity of the clays was examined. Predominant clay minerals were kaolinite for Singapore clay, kaolinite, vermiculite, and illite for Pusan clay, and smectite for Hachirogata and Ariake clay from Japan. The activity of clay indicates that Singapore clay is classified as normal or inactive, Pusan clay as normal, and Hachirogata and Ariake clays mostly as active. Significant positive correlations were found between smectite percentage in bulk soil and the liquid and plastic limits of the clays.     

Effect of Sample Disturbance on Unconfined Compression Strength of Natural Marine Clays

1 .IntroductionCoastalstructuresoftenencountersettlementandstabilityproblemsofsoftmarinefoundation (Liuetal.,1 999;Zhouetal.,2 0 0 0 ;Liuetal.,2 0 0 3) .Manyresearchershaveillustratedthatnaturalmarineclaysaregenerallysubjectedtotheeffectsofsoilstructureduringtheirdepositionalandpost depositionalprocesses (Zhangetal.,1 995;Hongetal.,2 0 0 3a ;2 0 0 3b) .Thesoilstructureofnat uralmarineclaysiseasilydamagedduringsamplingandhandlingbecausenaturalmarineclaysgeneral lyhavehighwatercontentandlowsti…     

Macro-and Micro-Properties of Two Natural Marine Clays in China

In this paper,macro- and micro- properties of natural marine clay in two different and representative regions of China are investigated in detail.In addition to in-situ tests,soil samples are collected by use of Shelby tubes for laboratory examination in Shanghai and Zhuhai respectively,two coastal cities in China.In the laboratory tests,macro-properties such as consolidation characteristics and undrained shear strength are measured.Moreover,X-ray diffraction test,scanning electron microscope test,and mercury intrusion test are carried out for the investigation of their micro-properties including clay minerals and microstructure.The study shows that:(1) both clays are Holocene series formations,classified as either normal or underconsolidated soils.The initial gradient of the stress-strain curves shows their increase with increasing consolidation pressure;however,the Shanghai and the Zhuhai clays are both structural soils with the latter shown to be more structured than the former.As a result,the Zhuhai clay shows strain softening behavior at low confining pressures,but strain hardening at high pressures.In contrast,the Shanghai clay mainly manifests strain-hardening.(2) An activity ranges from 0.75 to 1.30 for the Shanghai marine clay and from 0.5 to 0.85 for the Zhuhai marine clay.The main clay mineral is illite in the Shanghai clay and kaolinite in the Zhuhai clay.The Zhuhai clay is mainly characterized by a flocculated structure,while the typical Shanghai clay shows a dispersed structure.The porous structure of the Shanghai clay is characterized mainly by large and medium-sized pores,while the Zhuhai clay porous structure is mainly featreed by small and medium-sized pores.The differences in their macro- and micro- properties can he attributed to different sedimentation environments.     

Nonparametric Estimation of Undrained Shear Strength for Normally Consolidated Clays

For decades, various well-known empirical correlations have been established and commonly used to estimate the undrained shear strength of normally consolidated clays in geotechnical practice. However, there are still many contradictory cases regarding the validity of these correlations, so their applicability and reliability are questionable. In this study, an extensive geotechnical database for normally consolidated clays has been compiled. Next, a Bayesian nonparametric method is exploited to identify the most critical soil index properties in inferring the undrained shear strength and a new predictive model is proposed. Finally, the performance of the proposed predictive model is assessed and compared with two well-known correlations using an independent testing database. It confirms that the proposed model not only possesses high predictability, but also provides superior performance over other existing empirical correlations.     

A Note on Soil Structure Resistance of Natural Marine Deposits

It has been well documented that natural normally-consolidated marine soils are generally subjected to the effects of soil structure. The interpretation of the resistance of soil structure is an important issue in the theory study and engineering practice of ocean engineering and geotechnical engineering. It is traditionally considered that the resistance of soil structure gradually disappears with increasing stress level when the applied stress is beyond the consolidation yield stress. In this study, however, it is found that this traditional interpretation of the resistance of soil structure can not explain the strength behavior of natural marine deposits with a normally-consolidated stress history A new interpretation of the resistance of soil structure is proposed based on the strength behavior. In the preyield state, the undrained strength of natural marine deposits is composed of two components: one developed by the applied stress and the other developed by the resistance of soil structure. When the applied stress is beyond the consolidation yield stress, the strength behavior is independent of the resistance of soil structure.     

加拿大海洋调查设备与方法

总结了加拿大地调局在开展近海陆坡及大陆架地质、地球物理调查和其他综合海洋调查工作时通常使用的专门的调查仪器和设备，包括调查船、定位系统、测深设备、侧扫声纳设备、取样取心设备、地震调查设备、水下摄影设备及其他设备以及相关的调查技术；总结了我们在海洋地质调查方面与加拿大的差距。     

无人船艇在海洋地质调查中的应用及展望

近年来,在海洋地质调查中无人船艇的应用受到越来越多的关注。笔者对无人船艇的基本概念、国内外发展现状、在海洋地质调查中的应用情况等进行了阐述,并分析了无人船艇在海洋地质调查的应用前景和发展趋势。无人船艇搭载地质调查作业系统作为一种新的调查技术和作业方法,已经在海洋地质调查中崭露头角,未来这种智能化的水上作业模式必将有更加广阔的应用前景。     

大洋多金属结核矿区沉积物土工性质

利用1994年大洋多金属结核调查所获得的土工资料,结合以往有关资料进行了综合分析。研究了大洋沉积物类型、沉积物土工性质、土质强度等,为未来海底工程设施和多金属结核开采设备的设计与制造提供依据。     

Geotechnical properties of oceanic sediments in polymetallic nodules belts

I~IOWOver years POlylnetallic noduleS are considered one of POtential rererces with the most econOAnc value in ocean rererces. MOSt countries have conducted thorOUgh investigations and researcheS in polyTnetallic nodules belts and a vast amount of data have aam collected. These dataprovide bases for cornmercial exploitation Of the polyrnetallic nodules in the future.~echnical properties are very imPOrtant to the selection of mining methods, and affect thedesign and manufacture of ocean…     

构筑新世纪海洋经济与港口经济发展的新体系

海洋经济是关于海洋资源的经济问题，即为了满足人们对海洋资源产品的需要，如何协调开发与管理、利用与保护、改造与培育的经济问题。海洋经济所有的活动与海洋有着直接的关系，是由海洋产业组成的，而海洋产业是人类利用和开发海洋、海岸带资源所进行的生产和服务活动，是涉海性的人类经济活动。同时海洋经济不是单一的部门经济或行业经济，是人类所有涉海经济活动的总和。现代海洋经济包括为开发海洋资源和依赖海洋空间而进行的生产活动，以及直接或间接为开发海洋资源及空间的相关服务性产业活动，这样一些产业活动而形成的经济集合均被…     

洋山深水港风暴增、减水特征

依据小洋山1997年8月至2002年12月的实测潮位,采用王骥、方国洪的分潮模式,进行潮汐调和分析,给出天文潮预报,对期间的实测潮位进行增、减水分离,获取洋山深水港区风暴增、减水特征,以及典型的风暴的增减水过程,经对1998-2002年实测资料分离,≥30cm的增水年均17.2场,≥30 cm的减水年均9场,引发严重增水的主要是台风.同时检索、比对大量的台风资料,分析引发洋山港海域严重和特大风暴潮的台风路径主要是在浙江北部到长江口沿海登陆的台风和在浙江北部、上海市近海北上或转向的台风.     

改性粘土絮凝法对太平洋牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)稚贝的影响

本实验以太平洋牡蛎稚贝(Crassostrea gigas,～0.2cm)为对象,研究了HDTMA有机改性粘土和PAC无机改性粘土絮凝法治理赤潮时对海洋底栖生物的影响。96h急性毒性实验中二者对牡蛎稚贝的半致死浓度(LC50)分别为4.62g/L和2.67g/L。在能够有效去除赤潮微藻的浓度条件下(0.10g/L),经慢性毒性实验发现改性粘土对牡蛎稚贝成活率无影响,牡蛎生长速度较对照组没有明显差异,滤食率比培养实验初始时升高了3～4倍,同时在牡蛎超微组织结构中未发现机械损伤。通过模拟改性粘土去除赤潮生物(Heterosigma akashiwo和Prorocentrum donghaiense)过程中对生物体的影响,发现改性粘土絮凝法通过去除赤潮藻能显著提高牡蛎的存活率,所以HDTMA有机改性粘土和PAC无机改性粘土絮凝法在赤潮生物防控中可以作为一项有效的应急措施。     

Estimation of Marine Soil Parameters for Preliminary Analysis of Geotechnical Structures in the Taiwan Strait Connection Project

No direct site investigation (SI) data are available for the prospective Taiwan Strait connection project. Any quantitative analysis on the performance of a tunnel, a bridge, or of on-shore (or off-shore) connections needs reasonable geotechnical model parameters. Correlations between basic properties of marine soils and geotechnical model parameters have been established before by the first author based on a large amount of laboratory test data. The established correlations together with other relations considering main types of soils in the Taiwan Strait region are used to estimate the geotechnical model parameters of the marine soils. These correlations and estimated values of the geotechnical parameters of the marine soils are presented and discussed in this article. The estimated geotechnical model parameters can be used for a preliminary analysis of the performance of geotechnical structures of the prospective project.     

Geotechnical Aspects of Clayey Sediments Off Badagara on the Kerala Coast,India

Offshore geotechnical surveys form part of an integrated investigation to rejuvenate a decrepit minor port at Badagara, Kerala on the southwestern coast of India. The sediments typify a fluvio-marine milieu ranging from silty clay, sand, silty sand, sandy silt and clayey silt. Geotechnical and sedimentological studies of shallow cores reveal the geotechnical aspects besides the depositional history of the sediments. Downcore geotechnical variations and regressive coefficients based on their inter-relationships highlight diverse factorial inferences. X-Ray Diffraction data indicate the prominent clay type.

A comparative evaluation of the geotechnical characteristics of clayey sediments off Badagara, with similar studies along various sectors of the Kerala coast, both on land as well as in the near shore, is broadly attempted. Geotechnical studies carried out earlier on the uplifted Cochin marine clays provide comparative data for evaluating the possible variations between present day marine clayey sediments occurring along the Kerala coast and uplifted marine clays which, besides their gross variations in levels with respect to the present sea-level, also obviously relate to a much older depositional environment and provenance during probable Holocene times.