Mechanical properties of sand and sand-gravel soils for underwater fill

Conclusions

• 1. The method of investigating the physical and mechanical properties of noncohesive soils in the range of variation of relative density 0<I_d<1 examined in the article can be recommended for laboratory practice, especially in cases of using the same earth material for various construction purposes.

• 2. The method of determining the characteristics of soils in a wide range of variation of the relative density permits the prompt use of the results obtained both in design practice and during construction for a control calculation of foundations and structures in the case of unforeseen engineering measures without conducting additional experimental investigations.

• 3. The placement of a shoaling layer in the foundation of the dike under construction in the Gulf of Finland opens the possibility for dumping moraine loam, sand-gravel soil, and rock, satisfying the condition of constructing an embankment in open water by the pioneer method at depths of more than 5 m.

• 4. The placement of underwater sand or sand-gravel soil fill is most expedient in stretches of the natural foundation of the embankment composed of loose, plastic loams of lake and sea deposits, where this fill will play the role of a drainage layer reducing the pore pressure on particular surfaces.

• 5. The results of investigating the compressibility and shear strength of noncohesive soils as a function of their initial density can be used also in calculations of the bearing capacity of the artificial foundation of the aqueducts of the protective complex being installed from floating elements weighing up to 50,000 tons each, and also at the construction of other structures.