Factors Affecting Consolidation Related Prediction of Singapore Marine Clay by Observational Methods

The use of prefabricated vertical drains with preloading option is the most widely-used ground improvement method for the improvement of marine clays in land reclamation projects. The assessment of the degree of consolidation of the marine clay is of paramount importance prior to the removal of preload in such ground improvement projects. This analysis can be carried out by means of observational methods with the use of field settlement plates and piezometer monitoring. Field settlement monitoring data can be used to ascertain the settlement of the reclaimed fill from the time of initial installation. The field settlement data can be analysed by the Asaoka method to predict the ultimate settlement of the reclaimed land under the surcharge fill. Back-analysis of the field settlement data will enable the coefficient of consolidation due to horizontal flow to be closely estimated. Piezometer monitoring data can be analysed to obtain the degree of consolidation of the improved marine clay. Back-analysis of the piezometer data will also enable the coefficient of consolidation due to horizontal flow to be estimated. The aim of this paper is to highlight the significance and impact of the various factors that affect prediction by the Asaoka and piezometer assessment methods. The authors findings of the Asaoka method reveal that the magnitude of ultimate settlement decreases and the degree of consolidation subsequently increases as a longer period of assessment is used in the prediction. The degree of consolidation predicted by the piezometers is found to be in good agreement with the Asaoka method for the early period of assessment. However as the assessment period increases, the piezometer indicates lower degree of consolidation as compared to field settlement predictions.     

Characteristics of Singapore Marine Clay at Changi

Singapore marine clay at Changi is a quartenary deposit that lies within valleys cut in the Old Alluvium. It is locally known as Kallang formation. The pre-reclamation site characterization and laboratory testing was carried out by conducting marine sampling boreholes, in situ dissipation tests and field vane test. In situ dissipation tests were conducted with the piezocone, flat dilatometer, self-boring pressuremeter and BAT permeameter. The purpose of the site characterization was to determine the consolidation characteristics, strength characteristics, stratigraphy, and mineralogy of Singapore marine clay. The consolidation properties of marine clay are required prior to land reclamation activities in order to predict the magnitude and rates of settlement with the expected fill load and future service load as well as for the design of soil improvement works. The shear strength properties are required for slope stability analyses during reclamation and for the stability analyses of shore protection works. Clay mineralogy tests and photographic identification of the marine clay was carried out to determine the mineralogical properties and to visually record the marine clay colour and texture.     

In Situ Pore Water Pressure Dissipation Testing of Marine Clay under Reclamation Fills

In situ dissipation tests provide a means of evaluating the in situ coefficient of horizontal consolidation and horizontal hydraulic conductivity of soft clays. Dissipation tests by means of piezocone (CPTU), dilatometer (DMT), self-boring pressuremeter (SBPT) and BAT permeameter (BAT) were utilized in the characterization of the coefficient of horizontal consolidation and horizontal hydraulic conductivity of Singapore marine clay at Changi in a land reclamation project. Dissipation tests were carried out prior to reclamation as well as after ground improvement with vertical drains to compare the changes in the coefficient of horizontal consolidation and horizontal hydraulic conductivity prior to and after ground improvement. Tests were carried out in a vertical drain area as well as in an adjacent untreated control area after 23 months of surcharge loading, for comparison purposes. The purpose of this research is to determine the horizontal consolidation parameters of Singapore marine clay prior to reclamation as well as after 23 months of surcharge loading with and without vertical drains by means of in situ dissipation tests.     

连云港海相软土流变特性试验及双屈服面流变模型

为研究连云港海相软土流变特性,进行了三轴流变试验。根据对试验结果的分析,可以将连云港海相软土作为弹-粘塑性体来研究;将广义Bingham模型和椭圆-抛物线双屈服面模型相结合,建立了新的流变模型来描述其流变特性,得出了各参数,并验证了该模型的适用性。     

基于孔压静力触探(CPTU)测试的连云港海相粘土前期固结压力确定方法研究

首先回顾了基于孔压静力触探(CPTU)测试确定前期固结压力的方法,通过连云港海相粘土场地进行的CPTU试验资料,以室内固结试验得到的前期固结压力作为参考值评估了经验方法预测前期固结压力的有效性。最简单的方法是直接建立前期固结压力和净锥尖阻力的关系,同时也是最有效的方法。     

海洋浮游生物原位观测技术研究进展

原位观测技术在生物海洋学过程研究中的应用,从海洋生物多样性、海洋生物的生理生态响应和宏观的生态过程及其变动机制等方向的研究中得到迅速的发展,极大提高了对海洋生物学、生态学以及不同时空尺度生物地球化学过程的认识.包括原位光学检测技术、水下显微摄像与自动化鉴定技术、水下流式细胞技术、分子生物传感器等新型原位观测技术,拓宽了各类型观测平台的研究对象范围.重点阐述生物海洋学原位观测技术的发展现状、应用实例及其在立体海洋观测系统中的应用前景.     

凹凸棒石黏土脱色力的测试

针对凹凸棒石黏土脱色力测试过程中实验条件难统一、影响因素多而复杂、测试结果误差大、现有测试方法规定不明确等现状，结合甘肃省某地凹凸棒石黏土脱色力的测试，通过一些条件实验，提出了较为合理的测试方法。国家标准物质测试结果与标准值相符，方法精密度（RSD，n=6）小于2％。     

大连滨海粉质黏土剪切力学特性环剪试验

以大连滨海地区典型粉质黏土为研究对象,利用大型高速环剪仪,针对不同法向应力和剪切速率条件下该粉质黏土大剪切力学性质的变化情况进行了试验。环剪试验结果显示：1）该滨海粉质黏土在正常固结状态下出现明显的应变软化现象,分析表明其应变软化特性主要与土中黏土矿物质量分数及其在剪切过程中的定向排列有关。2）在相同剪切速率下,峰值强度和残余强度随法向应力的增加而增大,峰值强度与法向应力之间表现出良好的线性关系。3）由于峰值强度产生过程中土体内部黏聚力的变化,峰值强度随剪切速率的增加而增大;残余强度变化与剪切速率具有一定的相关性,这与不同剪切速率下剪切带（面）处黏土颗粒定向排列程度不同有关。     

Assessment of Marine Clay Improvement Under Reclamation Fills by in-situ Testing Methods

In ground improvement projects with prefabricated vertical drains, the duration of the preloading period is set in advance based on the predetermined time rate of consolidation of the compressible layer. If prediction is accurately done, the required degree of consolidation is met at the pre-determined preloading time. As such, there is a requirement for in-situ tests to be carried out just prior to the removal of surcharge to assess the degree of consolidation of the improved ground. In-situ tests were carried out after 23 months of surcharge loading at the In-Situ Test Site within the Changi East Reclamation Project in the Republic of Singapore. In-situ testing works in this research study comprises the use of field vane shear, piezocone, flat dilatometer and self-boring pressuremeter. The in-situ tests were carried out to determine the shear strength and degree of consolidation of the Singapore marine clay at Changi after 23 months of surcharge loading. The In-Situ Test Site consisted of a Vertical Drain Area as well as an untreated Control Area. Both areas were located adjacent to each other and were surcharged simultaneously to the same level and surcharge left in place for a period of 23 months. Comparison was made between the in-situ test results of the Vertical Drain Area and the untreated Control Area.     

Dynamic Properties of Soft Clay and Loose Sand from Seismic Centrifuge Tests

Appropriate evaluation of shear modulus and damping characteristics of soils subjected to dynamic loading is key to accurate seismic response analysis and soil modeling programs. Dynamic centrifuge experiments were conducted at C-CORE (Memorial University of Newfoundland) centrifuge center to investigate the dynamic properties and seismic response of soft clay and dry loose sand strata. Soft clay with shear strength of about 30 kPa and well graded silica sand at about 35% relative density were employed in a rigid container to simulate local site effects. Several earthquake-like shaking events were applied to the model to evaluate variation of shear modulus and damping ratio with shear strain amplitude and confining pressure, and to assess their effects on site response. The estimated modulus reduction and damping ratio were compared to the predictions of empirical formulae and resonant column tests for both soft clay and loose sand. The evaluated shear modulus and damping ratio were found to be dependent on confining pressure in both soil types. Modulus variation in both soils agreed well with the empirical curves and resonant column test results. However, the sand modulus values were slightly higher than the empirical relations and resonant column tests. This discrepancy is attributed to higher stress and densification of sand during large amplitude shaking applied to the model. The damping ratio at shear strains lower than 0.5% was in reasonable agreement with the empirical curves and the resonant column tests in both clay and sand models, but was generally higher at shear strain larger than 0.5%.     

Correlations between the in situ acoustic properties and geotechnical parameters of sediments in the Yellow Sea,China

Knowledge about the marine sediment acoustic properties is a key to understanding wave propagation in sediments and is very important for military oceanography and ocean engineering. We developed a hydraulic-drived self-contained in situ sediment acoustic measurement system, and measured for the first time the in situ acoustic properties of sediments on 78 stations in the Yellow Sea, China, by employing this system. The relationships between the in situ measured acoustic properties and the onboard or laboratory determined geotechnical parameters were analyzed. Porosity was found to be the dominant factor in reducing velocity in a quadratic fashion; velocity showed an increment with bulk density and a decrement with mean grain size and clay content both with a nonlinear dependence; acoustic attenuation showed a bell-shaped correlation with porosity and mean grain size but reduced with clay content of the sediments. The attenuation results indicate that intergrain friction rather than viscous interactions between pore fluid and solid grains is the dominant loss mechanism in our marine sediments. The relationships established would be used to predict the geotechnical parameters from in situ measured acoustic properties and vice versa, as well as being an indicator of the seafloor processes, potential gas bubbles hazard and gas hydrates resources or other suitable targets of acoustic surveys.     

Study on Swell Pressure Stress of Bentonite in Geosynthetic Clay Liners

1 Introduction Bentonite is a valuable industrial material, which is composed mainly of montmorillonite. Due to many particular characteristics such as strong water sorbility, dilatability, stickiness, high ion-exchangeable capacity, Bentonite has been used widely in many fields of application, including petroleum, metallurgy and chemical industry, textile industry, medical application, construction, mining, agriculture, environment (Koch, 2002; Wang and Wu, 2002; Wagner and Schnatmeyer, 20…     

巢湖北部地区海相地层黏土矿物特征及其地质意义

对巢湖北部地区以碳酸盐岩为主的寒武系—下三叠统海相地层的黏土矿物分析及伊利石结晶度测定的结果表明:伊利石是本区海相地层的主体矿物,平均体积分数为73%。黏土矿物的成岩转化特征表现为蒙皂石的伊利石化。按照伊利石结晶度的成岩-浅变质程度划分,本区寒武系—下三叠统的成岩作用已达到最高成岩阶段。伊利石结晶度的纵向变化总体上可分为上、下两部分:下部寒武系至志留系的结晶度为0.41～0.60°Δ2θ,结晶度与埋深具有一定的相关性,成岩作用是下部地层黏土矿物特征的主控因素;上部泥盆系至下三叠统的结晶度为0.45～0.77°Δ2θ,呈波动变化,蒙皂石连续出现,地层没有被显著埋藏,沉积因素是上部地层黏土矿物特征的主控因素。下三叠统地层中蒙皂石的分布特征以及上泥盆统五通组顶部高岭石的普遍富集具有重要的古气候研究意义。     

周期荷载作用下粘性土变形及强度特性述评

周期荷载作用下粘性土变形及强度特性的研究所涉及的内容非常广泛,而我国在该领域的研究成果还较少。文中对其国内外研究现状作了较为详尽的评述,以期引起岩土工作者足够的重视。     

高黏粒含量海洋土电阻率特征分析及模型构建

在高黏粒含量海洋土中,黏粒吸附孔液中阳离子形成的双电层会直接影响土体导电性,与孔液、土体结构共同形成土体导电性的影响因素,使导电结构变得复杂。对饱和的海洋土而言,固结程度不同代表了土体结构不同。为量化分析双电层对不同固结程度高黏粒含量海洋土导电性的影响,界定电阻率测试技术对海洋土结构变化的反映能力,分别以黄河三角洲和南海北部陆坡海洋土为研究对象,进行电阻率和其他物理性质测试。基于测试结果分析不同黏粒含量海洋土电阻率的变化规律和独有特征,借鉴黏性土多元导电理论构建适合的电阻率模型。研究表明,黏粒含量对不同固结程度海洋土电阻率的影响不同,根据其变化特征可分为3个阶段：正常固结的海洋土电阻率变化可用简化的二元模型公式表示,当孔隙度小于50%时,电阻率随孔隙度呈明显的幂函数降低,当孔隙度介于50%~60%时,电阻率随孔隙度降低速率明显减小;欠固结海洋土孔隙度均高于60%,电阻率随孔隙度线性减小,可用线性模型公式描述。电阻率测量技术对高黏粒含量正常固结海洋土结构变化（孔隙度变化）反映能力良好,探测灵敏度可达25 Ω·m;对欠固结海洋土结构变化反映困难。     

静压注浆在加固软土地基中的应用

厂房的不均匀沉降是一种常见的工程事故，对于对沉降有特别要求的厂房，则必须加以处理。介绍了静压注浆法处理地基不均匀沉降的问题。实践证明，处理后的地基得到有效的加固。此工艺既简便、速度快，又经济。     

冲击荷载作用下饱和软粘土孔压增长与消散规律

通过大量室内试验,研究饱和软粘土在冲击荷载作用下的变形和孔压增长规律,讨论孔压增长的内在机理和不同围压、不同冲击能作用下孔压量的变化。讨论土体的再团结变形规律,提出再固结体积压缩系数的确定方法。最后分析冲击荷载作用后的强度变化。这些讨论为动静结合法处理软基提供了依据。     

软土固结系数确定方法的研究及应用

在砂井地基固结度计算中,土的固结系数是一个十分重要的参数,土的固结系数通常通过室内试验求得,但室内取得水平向固结系数制样比较困难。利用软基处理过程中孔隙水压力监测资料来推算软土的固结系数,并和室内试验加以对比分析,总结出二者之间的相互关系及变化规律,可供同类工程设计借鉴。     

粘土矿物的X射线衍射物相分析

文章总结了粘土矿物的Ｘ射线衍射物相分析经验。阐述粘土矿物的分析条件,制样方法和衍射图解释等特点。研究重系定量分析方法,总结出几种常见的粘土矿物的权重系数。讨论了放物高温衍射分析问题。     

高围压下冻结粘土的抗压强度试验研究

以取自华东某地的深部粘土为研究对象,根据室内单轴和三轴压缩试验的试验结果,分析了高围压下冻结粘土的应力-应变行为与单轴压缩条件下应力-应变行为的异同,并讨论了围压和温度对冻结粘土强度的作用.