Abstract
This paper summarizes the results and analyses of laboratory and field measurements of the elastic shear modulus of lightly overconsolidated, compressible Chicago clays. These soils are glacially-derived, freshwater ice margin deposits. The laboratory experiments were conducted on twelve high quality block samples obtained from three excavation sites in the Chicago area. The specimens were consolidated to in situ stresses via a recompression technique, and the elastic shear modulus was synchronously obtained from results of bender element tests during consolidation and subsequent creep. Seismic cone penetration and crosshole seismic tests were performed in situ. The results show that the elastic shear moduli from the bender element tests after consolidation and a sufficiently-long creep period are approximately the same as those obtained from the results of the in situ tests. The effects of time on the elastic shear modulus are smaller than the effects caused by soil variability. Evaluation of the laboratory and field data indicates that the elastic shear modulus of compressible Chicago clays can be estimated from the natural water content and mean normal effective stress.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1996-2006 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 18 2014 |
Funding
Professor Dennis Hiltunen of the University of Florida and Professor Paul Mayne and his colleagues from Georgia Institute of Technology conducted the crosshole and sCPT tests, respectively. Their efforts are greatly appreciated. Financial support for this work was provided by National Science Foundation grant CMMI-0928184 and the Infrastructure Technology Institute of Northwestern University. The support of Dr. Richard Fragaszy, program director at NSF, is greatly appreciated.
Keywords
- bender elements
- block sample
- chicago clay
- crosshole test
- elastic shear modulus
- experiments
- seismic CPT
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Civil and Structural Engineering