ISSN: 0149-6115
Page Count: 12

Preparation of Large-Size Laboratory Deposits of Cohesive Soil

McManus, KJ
Senior lecturer,University of Canterbury,

Kulhawy, FH
Professor,School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University,NY,

Abstract

High-quality, large-size cohesive soil deposits can be prepared in the laboratory using the slurry method, which has many advantages for research and calibration purposes. The requirements for such deposits are discussed, and details are presented of the apparatus used successfully to prepare deposits of Cornell clay. Fifteen medium-size deposits (0.6 m diameter by 1.2 m deep) and one large-size deposit (1.4 m diameter by 2.1 m deep) were prepared. The results from a large number of water content tests made during dissection of each deposit and from in situ shear strength tests show that the deposits were very uniform and that the soil properties were both predictable and repeatable from one deposit to another. Details of the construction and operation of the apparatus are given.

Keywords:
calibrations, cohesion, consolidation, deposit, foundation, in situ, laboratory, large size, model, preparation, slurry, soil, strength, stress history, test, transducer

Paper ID: GTJ10058J
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ10058J
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