Pressuremeter testing in miocene stiff clays

In geotechnical engineering, it has proven difficult to obtain reliable soil parameters for stiff clays. Laboratory testing results are often scattering due to the fissures and slickensides in these soils. Alternatively, in situ techniques offer a means to test the soils in place. This study focuses on in situ testing in Miocene stiff clays using an advanced nine strain arm self-boring pressuremeter (SBPM). This device was used to test the soils in both a self-boring and a simpler, non-boring mode (pre-bored or PBPM tests). The Miocene stiff clay was unique in that was sensitive and lacked of fissures and slickensides. The pressuremeter results could be compared to a range of other tests previously performed at the site. It is concluded that the SBPM provides accurate values of modulus and strength. Minor soil disturbance was found to have little effect when it could be anticipated. The simpler PBPM tests were not successful because of disturbance caused by borehole preparation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Civil Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1993

Author dc:creator

• Lien, Bon-Hsiang

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Clough, G. Wayne

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Duncan, J. Michael
• Kuppusamy, Thangavelu
• Brandon, Thomas L.
• Henneke, Edmund G.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-10102005-131613

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/39730