Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of Uniformity of Soil Specimens Prepared in Large Tanks by Slurry Consolidation

  • Technical note
  • Published:
Geotechnical and Geological Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper evaluates the degree of uniformity achieved in clay beds prepared for model tests using slurry consolidation method. Clay Specimens were prepared in a cylindrical tank split into five horizontal rings of equal height. This set-up facilitated the sampling of clay for quality checks viz., oedometer tests, gradation analyses, vane shear strength and water content determination in horizontal and vertical directions throughout the specimen. The results from the study show that while the spatial variation of water contents conforms to the acceptance criterion, the same is not true for that of undrained shear strength which is the main parameter of interest for model tests. It is proposed, therefore, to make the acceptance criterion for water content stricter by the factor bs, which is the characteristic of the soil type, depicting slope of the linear function of water content, w, versus undrained shear strength, su, on log–log scale. Oedometer tests showed the reduction of consolidation pressure with depth, which indicates the loss of applied pressure while being transmitted to the lower layers. Gradation analyses suggested no particle segregation in the consolidated specimen. The relation between water content and consolidation pressure was utilised to plot pressure distribution contours throughout the specimen. The uniformity in the specimen was also compared with that prepared through centrifuge consolidation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Abbreviations

as :

Water content at su = 1 kPa

bs :

Slope of the linear function of water content, w, versus undrained shear strength, su, on log–log scale

Cc :

Coefficient of compression index

COV:

Coefficient of variation

Cr :

Coefficient of recompression index

Cs :

Coefficient of swelling index

e:

Void ratio

Gs :

Specific gravity of soil solids

g :

Acceleration due to earth’s gravity

gm:

Gram

p′:

Effective stress

pc′:

Consolidation pressure

su :

Undrained shear strength

σ:

Standard deviation

w :

Water content

References

  • Ambily AP, Gandhi SR (2007) Behaviour of Stone columns based on Experimental and FEM analyses. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng (ASCE) 133(4):405–415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ASTM D2216 (2010) Standard test methods for laboratory determination of water (moisture) content of soil and rock by mass. ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM D2435 (2011) Standard test methods for one-dimensional consolidation properties of soils using incremental loading. ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM D2573 (2008) Standard test method for field vane shear test in cohesive soil. ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM D422 (2007) Standard test method for particle-size analysis of soils. ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  • Casagrande, A. (1936) The determination of preconsolidation load and its practical significance. In: Proceedings of first international conference on soil mechanics and foundation engineering, vol 3, pp 60–64. 22–26 June 1936, Cambridge, MA

  • Cimentada A, da Costa A, Cañizal J, Sagaseta C (2011) Laboratory study on radial consolidation and deformation in clay reinforced with granular piles. Can Geotech J 48(1):36–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gnanendran CT (2006) Behaviour of a square footing under vertical and horizontal load: Model study. In: Proceedings of 6th international conference on physical modelling in geotechnics (ICPMG), pp 783–788, Taylor and Francis group, London

  • Kolay P, Bhattacharya G (2008) Remediation of the side friction in conventional oedometer tests by using large diameter consolidometer ring. Int J Geotech Eng 2(2):161–167. https://doi.org/10.3328/IJGE.2008.02.02.161-167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolekar YA, Dasaka SM (2014) Variability in the soil properties of laboratory consolidated clay beds. Int J Geotech Eng 8(4):365–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koumoto T, Houlsby GT (2001) Theory and practice of the fall cone test. Géotechnique 51(8):701–712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuerbis RH, Vaid YP (1988) Sand sample preparation—the slurry deposition method. Soils Found 28(4):107–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ladd RS (1977) Specimen preparation and cyclic stability of sands. J Geotech Eng Div (ASCE) 103(6):535–547

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovisa J, Sivakugan N. (2014) Tall oedometer testing: method to account for wall friction. Int J Geomech 15(2):04014045. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKelvey D, Sivakumar V, Bell A, Graham J (2004) Modelling vibrated stone columns in soft clay. Proceed the Inst Civ Eng Geotech Eng 157(3):137–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mir OS, Kolekar YA, Dasaka SM, Viswanadham BVS (2015) Effect of container wall friction on the consolidation of clay specimen. In: The international foundations congress and equipment expo 2015, vol 256, pp 2442–2451. San Antonio, TX, ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication (GSP)

  • Mulilis JP, Seed HB, Chan CK, Mitchell JK, Arulanandan K (1977) Effects of sample preparation on sand liquefaction. J Geotech Eng Div (ASCE) 103(2):91–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Murthy TG, Loukidis D, Carraro JAH, Prezzi M, Salgado R (2007) Undrained monotonic response of clean and silty sands. Géotechnique 57(3):273–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murugesan S, Rajagopal K (2006) Geosynthetic-encased stone columns: numerical evaluation. Geotext Geomembr 24(6):349–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murugesan S, Rajagopal K (2007) Model tests on geosynthetic encased stone columns. Geosynth Int 14(6):346–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murugesan S, Rajagopal K (2009) Shear load tests on stone columns with and without geosynthetic encasement. Geotech Test J 32(1):35–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Murugesan S, Rajagopal K (2010) Studies on the behaviour of single and group of geosynthetic encased stone columns. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 136(1):129–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phoon KK, Kulhawy FH (1999) Characterization of geotechnical variability. Can Geotech J 36(4):612–624

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheeran DE, Krizek RJ (1971) Preparation of homogeneous soil samples by slurry consolidation. J Mater JMLSA 6(2):356–373

    Google Scholar 

  • Shivashankar R, Dheerendra Babu MR, Nayak S, Manjunath R (2010) Stone columns with vertical circumferential nails: laboratory model study. Geotech Geol Eng 28(5):695–706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trauner L, Dolinar B, Mišič M (2005) Relationship between the undrained shear strength, water content, and mineralogical properties of fine-grained soils. Int J Geomech 5(4):350–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood DM, Hu W, Nash DFT (2000) Group effects in stone column foundations: model tests. Géotechnique 50(6):689–698

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India

    Owais Shafi Mir, S. M. Dasaka, Y. A. Kolekar & B. V. S. Viswanadham

Authors
  1. Owais Shafi Mir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. M. Dasaka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Y. A. Kolekar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. V. S. Viswanadham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. M. Dasaka.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mir, O.S., Dasaka, S.M., Kolekar, Y.A. et al. Evaluation of Uniformity of Soil Specimens Prepared in Large Tanks by Slurry Consolidation. Geotech Geol Eng 36, 1885–1895 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-017-0417-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-017-0417-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation