Showing papers in "Canadian Geotechnical Journal in 2014"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present details of a study that deals with determination of engineering properties, identification of phases of major hydration products, and microstructural characteristics of a zinc-c...
Abstract: This paper presents details of a study that deals with determination of engineering properties, identification of phases of major hydration products, and microstructural characteristics of a zinc-c...
273 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a numerical modeling of 3D slopes is performed using the shear strength reduction (SSR) technique based on the linear Mohr-Coulomb (MC) criterion.
Abstract: Existing numerical modeling of three-dimensional (3D) slopes is performed mainly by using the shear strength reduction (SSR) technique based on the linear Mohr–Coulomb (MC) criterion, whereas the n...
117 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a large database of 10 clay parameters (labeled as CLAY/10/7490) from 251 studies, covering clay data from 30 regions or countries worldwide, is presented.
Abstract: This study compiles a large database of 10 clay parameters (labeled as CLAY/10/7490) from 251 studies, covering clay data from 30 regions or countries worldwide. Hence, the range of data covered by...
97 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a database of 641 fall cone tests on 101 soil samples from twelve countries has been analyzed to determine the best mathematical relationship linking undrained shear strength with liquidity index.
Abstract: A database of 641 fall cone tests on 101 soil samples from twelve countries has been analysed to determine the best mathematical relationship linking undrained shear strength with liquidity index. From the database, it is shown that the use of a linear relationship linking liquidity index and the logarithm of undrained shear strength that uses the commonly assumed 100-fold factor increase in strength from liquid to plastic limit over-predicts the measured data of soil strength. The use of a factor of about 35 for the ratio between the strength at liquid limit and that extrapolated to plastic limit is shown to be more realistic. Logarithmic liquidity index is examined and found to also correlate strongly with the logarithm of undrained shear strength, however it is shown that no great statistical improvement is present compared with the semilogarithmic formulation. When considering data of individual soils a power law fitting is shown statistically to be the preferred mathematical function.
96 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors assess the risk of failure of spudcan foundations on sand overlying clay by predicting the full penetration resistance profile, from touchdown and through punch-throug...
Abstract: Assessment of the risk of punch-through failure of spudcan foundations on sand overlying clay requires prediction of the full penetration resistance profile, from touchdown and through punch-throug...
95 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a 10-dimensional multivariate probability distribution covering 10 clay parameters is constructed, including the liquid limit, plasticity index (PI), liquidity index, effective vertices, and effective vertice.
Abstract: This paper constructs a 10-dimensional multivariate probability distribution covering 10 clay parameters. The parameters are the liquid limit, plasticity index (PI), liquidity index, effective vert...
95 citations
TL;DR: The linear form of the extended Mohr-Coulomb shear strength equation as discussed by the authors uses a ϕb parameter to quantify the rate of increase in the strength relative to matric suction.
Abstract: The linear form of the extended Mohr–Coulomb shear strength equation uses a ϕb parameter to quantify the rate of increase in shear strength relative to matric suction. When the ϕb value is unknown,...
95 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide an overview of the role of contaminants in many applications encountered within the field of environmental geotechnics, and the objective of this paper is to provide an ov...
Abstract: Diffusion of contaminants can play a significant if not dominant role in many applications encountered within the field of environmental geotechnics. The objective of this paper is to provide an ov...
94 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a virtual calibration chamber was developed using a three-dimensional (3D) discrete element method (DEM) to perform cone penetration tests (CPTs) on a discrete analogue of Ticino sand.
Abstract: A virtual calibration chamber was developed using a three-dimensional (3D) discrete element method (DEM) to perform cone penetration tests (CPTs) on a discrete analogue of Ticino sand. The macrosca...
91 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate, quantify, and compare grass-induced suction distributions in silty sand compacted at different densities when subjected to artificial rainfall in the laboratory.
Abstract: Grass is recognized as being beneficial in reducing rainfall infiltration in some kinds of surface cover systems such as landfill cover, because rainwater discharges as surface runoff due to reduced water permeability caused by evapotranspirationinduced soil suction as well as foliage interception. However, the distributions of grass-induced suction in various compacted soils during rainfall are rarely reported. Moreover, it is not straightforward to determine an optimum soil dry density for minimizing rainfall infiltration and at the same time encouraging plant growth. This is because there are conflicting requirements for vegetated cover systems, i.e., compacted soil should not be too dense as to impede root growth, while on the other hand to minimize infiltration. This study thus aims to investigate, quantify, and compare grass-induced suction distributions in silty sand compacted at different densities when subjected to artificial rainfall in the laboratory. A grass species, Cynodon dactylon, which is common in many parts of Asia, was selected for testing. Compacted soil with and without a growing grass patch was tested at three relative compactions (RCs) of 70%, 80%, and 95%, in six test boxes. Test results reveal that at an RC of 95%, suction (40 kPa) retained in vegetated soil after rainfall is 100% higher than that (20 kPa) in bare soil. Among the vegetated soil compacted at the three RCs, suction retained was the highest at an RC of 95% (40 kPa), whereas suction decreased to 0 kPa at an RC of 70% after rainfall. As the average depth of grass roots decreased by 36% due to an increase in RC from 70% to 95%, the depth of influence of suction for vegetated soil at an RC of 95% reduced to less than half of root depth, which was the shallowest among the three compacted soil specimens.
88 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe a common occurrence in mountainous regions around the world that can potentially result in disastrous consequences to downstream facilities, where flow-impeding structures are often c...
Abstract: Landslide debris is a common occurrence in mountainous regions around the world that can potentially result in disastrous consequences to downstream facilities. Flow-impeding structures are often c...
TL;DR: Underground backfilling offers significant economic and environmental advantages to mining operations as discussed by the authors, however, there is a limited knowledge and understanding of how the backfill behaves within mine underground backfill.
Abstract: Underground backfilling offers significant economic and environmental advantages to mining operations. There is however a limited knowledge and understanding of how the backfill behaves within mine...
TL;DR: In this paper, the drying suction -water content soil-water characteristic curves (SWCCs) of three clays (MX80 bentonite, yellow bentonite and Speswhite kaolin) were experimentally determined using axis translation, vapour equilibrium, and osmotic techniques.
Abstract: The drying suction – water content soil-water characteristic curves (SWCCs) of three clays (MX80 bentonite, yellow bentonite, and Speswhite kaolin) were experimentally determined using axis-translation, vapour equilibrium, and osmotic techniques. The shrinkage paths of the clays were established from Clod tests. The suction – water content SWCCs in conjunction with the Clod test results enabled establishing the suction – degree of saturation SWCCs and further determination of the air-entry values (AEVs) of the clays. Chemical analyses of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions in the osmotic tests revealed an imbalance of the osmotic suctions between the expelled and the retained salts on either side of semi-permeable membranes. A decrease in the water content due to an applied suction for clays with significant osmotic efficiencies was explained by two mechanisms. In mechanism 1, the water content decrease prior to the air entry is controlled by the interparticle repulsive pressure, and in mechanism 2, a decrease in the degree of saturation following the air entry is primarily due to the matric suction. The agreements between the AEVs of the clays determined based on the osmotic suctions corresponding to various applied suctions and that determined from the suction – degree of saturation SWCCs were found to be very good.
TL;DR: Chile is one of the main copper producers in the world and it is located in a geographical area where mega-earthquakes occur and this fact, together with the development of larger and higher sand tail...
Abstract: Chile is one of the main copper producers in the world. It is located in a geographical area where mega-earthquakes occur and this fact, together with the development of larger and higher sand tail...
TL;DR: In this paper, the propagation stage of debris avalanches is numerically modelled to provide information such as the propagation pattern of the mobilized material and its velocity, thickness, and run-out distance.
Abstract: Flow-type landslides are a major global hazard. They occur worldwide, and are responsible for a large number of casualties, significant structural damage to property and infrastructure, and economic losses. The features of debris avalanches are particularly important, as they involve open slopes and affect triangular source areas when initial slides turn into avalanches through further failures or eventual soil entrainment. In this paper, the propagation stage of debris avalanches is numerically modelled to provide information such as the propagation pattern of the mobilized material and its velocity, thickness, and run-out distance. The use of a “depth-integrated” model has the following advantages: (i) it adequately accommodates the irregular topography of real slopes, which greatly affects the evolution of the propagation stage; and (ii) it is less time consuming than full three-dimensional approaches. The model is named “GeoFlow_SPH” and has previously been applied to theoretical, experimental, and re...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a design chart to estimate the factor of safety for simple slopes with cohesive-frictional (c-ϕ) soils and show that this is an imperfect measure.
Abstract: Design charts to estimate the factor of safety for simple slopes with cohesive-frictional (c-ϕ) soils are now available in the literature; however, the factor of safety is an imperfect measure for ...
TL;DR: An 11 m high dry-stacked masonry concrete block wall reinforced with a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geogrid was designed, instrumented, and monitored for a period of 2 years as part of a highwa...
Abstract: An 11 m high dry-stacked masonry concrete block wall reinforced with a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geogrid was designed, instrumented, and monitored for a period of 2 years as part of a highwa...
TL;DR: In this paper, a 3D rotational failure mechanism is adopted to investigate the influence of water drawdown on stability of 3D slopes, and several stability charts are presented to conveniently estimate the safety factor of three-dimensional slopes under four different types of drawdown processes.
Abstract: The traditional approaches for evaluating the stability of slopes or earth dams subjected to water drawdown are performed under plane-strain two-dimensional (2D) condition. Three-dimensional (3D) effect is neglected in assessment of the safety of a slope limited by rigid structures or a dam constrained by a narrow valley. Based on the kinematic approach of limit analysis, a 3D rotational failure mechanism is adopted here to investigate the influence of water drawdown on stability of 3D slopes. Several stability charts are presented to conveniently estimate the safety factor of 3D slopes under four different types of drawdown processes. An example is given to demonstrate the difference in the safety factors obtained from 2D and 3D analyses. When a slope is constrained to a large width (the ratio of the width to the height B/H ≥ 10.0), the 3D effect can be neglected and the plane-strain analysis is appropriate to assess its safety.
TL;DR: In this article, the interaction between tunnelling and an existing pile has been investigated, and the effect of tunneling on the ground and the existing pile foundations has been discussed.
Abstract: Any tunnelling process inevitably induces changes in stress in the ground and may adversely affect nearby pile foundations. The interaction between tunnelling and an existing pile has been investig...
TL;DR: In this paper, the results of compression and tension load tests performed on a single helical pile installed in dense sand are presented, using strain gauges that allowed the shaf...
Abstract: This paper presents the results of compression and tension load tests performed on a single helical pile installed in dense sand. The pile was instrumented using strain gauges that allowed the shaf...
TL;DR: Cone penetration testing with pore pressure measurement (CPTU) is a cost and time-efficient way of collecting in situ geotechnical parameters of near-surface marine soils for cable and pipeline traning as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Cone penetration testing with pore pressure measurement (CPTU) is a cost- and time-efficient way of collecting in situ geotechnical parameters of near-surface marine soils for cable and pipeline tr...
TL;DR: In this paper, a pile with fins is proposed to deal with large lateral loads on pile foundation supporting structures, such as bridge abutments, retaining walls, and structures subjected to wind-earthquake loads.
Abstract: Large lateral loads may act on pile foundation supporting structures, such as bridge abutments, retaining walls, and structures subjected to wind–earthquake loads. A pile with fins is a newly devel...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the possibility of modeling piezocone cone penetration (CPTU) cone tip resistance, excessive pore pressure behind the cone, undrained shear strength, and overconsolidation ratio.
Abstract: This study examines the possibility of modeling piezocone cone penetration (CPTU) cone tip resistance, excessive pore pressure behind the cone, undrained shear strength, and overconsolidation ratio...
TL;DR: In this article, a cyclic lateral loading arising from waves and wind, which is not typically uni-directional over the lifetime of the structure, is described. But the authors do not consider the effect of wind and waves on foundation piles.
Abstract: Foundation piles supporting offshore structures experience cyclic lateral loading arising from waves and wind, which are not typically uni-directional over the lifetime of the structure. This paper...
TL;DR: For most offshore seabeds, the undrained shear strength profile can be reasonably approximated as varying linearly with the number of plate anchors as mentioned in this paper, which can be used to provide uplift resistance for structures.
Abstract: Plate anchors are widely adopted to provide uplift resistance for structures. For most offshore seabeds, the undrained shear strength profile can be reasonably approximated as varying linearly with...
TL;DR: In this paper, large-scale evaporation experiments were conducted on bare sand using an environmental chamber and four different atmospheric conditions and various drying durations were imposed on the soil sample.
Abstract: Large-scale evaporation experiments were conducted on bare sand using an environmental chamber. Four different atmospheric conditions and various drying durations were imposed on the soil sample. A...
TL;DR: In this article, an approach to simulate the effects of initial density on the relative coefficient of permeability for unsaturated soils is proposed, which is based on an incremental relationship between the degree of saturation and the initial void ratio with various suctions.
Abstract: This study proposes an approach to simulate the effects of initial density on the relative coefficient of permeability for unsaturated soils. The density-dependent permeability function is derived based on (i) an incremental relationship between the degree of saturation and the initial void ratio with various suctions and (ii) the relationship between the permeability function and the soil-water retention curve (SWRC). Only one additional parameter is required in the proposed function, which can be calibrated using a conventional SWRC test. A number of test results in the literature are employed to validate the proposed density-dependent permeability function, and the model predictions indicate good agreement with the experimental data in the literature.
TL;DR: A very soft clay layer is highly compressible and exhibits significant creep under loading as mentioned in this paper, and the classical linearly elastic constitutive relationship and small-strain assumption are not suitable for this layer.
Abstract: A very soft clay layer is highly compressible and exhibits significant creep under loading. The classical linearly elastic constitutive relationship and small-strain assumption are not suitable for...
TL;DR: In this article, two small-scale mock-up tests were carried out on a compacted mixture of bentonite and sand, one with saturation from the bottom only and the other with saturation at the top and bottom.
Abstract: Two small-scale mock-up tests were carried out on a compacted mixture of bentonite and sand, one with saturation from the bottom only and the other with saturation from the top and bottom. Swelling...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the behaviour of a highway embankment in an area of discontinuous permafrost about 18 km northwest of Thompson, Manitoba and found that frequent maintenance has been required.
Abstract: The paper examines the behaviour of a highway embankment in an area of discontinuous permafrost about 18 km northwest of Thompson, Manitoba. Frequent maintenance has been required. Research involve...