ISSN: 0149-6115
Page Count: 10

Prediction of Field Compressibility from Laboratory Consolidation Tests of Peats and Organic Soils

Stinnette, P
Assistant professor of Environmental Studies,Hillsborough Community College,FL,

Abstract

Gibson and Lo (1961) compressibility parameters a and b for an organic soil can be determined from the organic content and the current pressure using the model presented by Gunaratne et al. (1998). These parameters, however, were developed based on results of laboratory one-dimensional consolidation tests and are valid for the K⁰ state. Researchers such as Edil et al. (1984) have found that the experimentally determined values of b in particular are larger for field situations. Therefore, the compressibility parameters have to be modified to predict field settlement under surcharges. This paper describes an extended model that addresses this issue and demonstrates how the laboratory-based b value can be corrected for field loading conditions. Finally, results of a full-scale, instrumented field settlement study of organic soil are shown to correlate well with the predictions of the extended model.

Keywords:
consolidation, ultimate settlement, organic soil, peat

Paper ID: GTJ11369J
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ11369J
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