Abstract
Natural soils are often characterized by a remarkable variability of their physico — mechanical properties. This work reports on several studies and discusses a large number of data concerning the variation coefficients of certain geotechnical parameters of fundamental importance and/or most commonly used in computation models. However, for the purpose of probabilistic evaluations, the use of this coefficients of variation results into evaluating failure probabilities that are too high compared to the corresponding frequency observed in actual pratice. Obviously, such a state of affairs causes lack of confidence in any kind of probabilistic approach.
The discrepancies just described can be overcome by utilizing probabilistic models that take into due account the spatial variability of geotechnical data: the fluctuation scale, in particular, must be well known. While it can be evaluated by a number of procedure, we still only have few nonhomogeneous data available.
The communication reports, and comments on, some values of fluctuation scale, for certain geotechnical characteristics.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Alonso, E.E. and Krizek, R.J. (1975) Stochastic formulation of soil properties. Proc. of the 2nd ICASP. Aachen, Vol. 4, pp. 9–32.
Bao, C.G. Huang, W.F. and Chang, Q.N. (1993) Reliability analysis of bearing capacity for a gravity wharf foundation in random field theory. Proc. of the Conference on probabilistic methods in geotechnical engineering. Canberra, pp. 291-294.
Bergado, D.T. and Chang, J.C. (1989) Application of on inter-active computer aided probabilistic slope stability assessment for embankments os soft Bangkok Clay. Proc. of The Int. Symp. on Computer and Physical Modelling in Geotechnical Engineering. Bangkok, pp. 25-52.
Chowdhury, R.N. (1984) Recent developements in landslide studies: Probabilistic Methods. State of the Report Session VII a International Symposium on Landslides. Toronto, pp. 209-228.
Cherubini, C. Cucchiararo, L. Germinario, S. and Giasi C.I. (1990) Elaborazione statistica preliminare sulle principali caratteristiche geotecniche delle Argille Azzurre della Città di Matera. Proc. of 2nd Workshop “Informatica e Scienze della Terra”, GIAST. Sarnano, pp. 63-70.
Cherubini, C. Giasi, C.I. and Rethati, L. (1993) The coefficients of variation of some geotechnical parameters. Proc. of the Conference on probabilistic methods in geotechnical engineering. Canberra, pp. 179-183.
Corotis, R.B. Azzouz, A.S. and Krizek, R.J. (1975) Statistical evaluation of soil index properties and constrained modulus. Proc. of the 2nd ICASP. Vol. 2, Aachen, pp. 273–293.
Gao, A.Z. and Li J.P. (1993) Reliability analysis on pile bearing capacity. Proc. of the Conf. on Probability Methods in Geotechnical Engineering. Camberra, pp. 295-301.
Harr, M.E. (1987) Reliability based design in civil engineering. Mc Graw Hill Book Company, N.Y.
Keaveny, J.M. Nadim, F. ang Laçasse G. (1989) Autocorrelation functions for offshore geotechnical data. 5th Int. Conf. on Structural Safety and Reliability ICOSSAR. pp. 263-270.
Kulhawy, H. Roth, N.J.S. and Grigoriu, N.B. (1991) Some statistical evaluations of geotechnical properties. VI ICASP, Mexico City, pp. 705–712.
Mostyn, G.R. and Li, K.S. (1993) Probabilistic alope analysis. State of play. Proc. of the Conference on probabilistic methods in geotechnical engineering. Canberra, pp. 89-109.
Queck, S.T. Chow, Y.K. and Phoon K.K. (1992) Further Contribution to reliability — Based Pile — Settlement analysis. Journ. of Geotechnical Engineering ASCE. Vol. 118 n. 5, pp. 726–742.
Rethati, L. (1989) Probabilistic solution in geotechnics. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Wickremesinghe, D. and Campanella R.G. (1993) Scale of fluctuation as a description of soil variability. Proc. of the Conference on probabilistic methods in geotechnical engineering. Canberra, pp. 233-239.
Tukey, J. (1977) Exploratory data analysis. Addison Wesley Publishing Company.
Vanmarcke, E.H. (1977) Probabilistic modelling of soil profiles. Journ. of Geot. Eng. Div. ASCE 103 (H). pp. 1227-1246.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Cherubini, C. (1994). The Variability of Geotechnical Parameters. In: Breysse, D. (eds) Probabilities and Materials. NATO ASI Series, vol 269. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1142-3_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1142-3_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4500-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-1142-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive