Showing papers in "Canadian Geotechnical Journal in 2016"
TL;DR: The updated approach combines a range of advances in image analysis algorithms and techniques best suited to geotechnical applications and achieves an improvement by at least a factor of 10 in measurement precision relative to the most commonly used particle image velocimetry (PIV) approach.
Abstract: This paper describes and benchmarks a new implementation of image-based deformation measurement for geotechnical applications. The updated approach combines a range of advances in image analysis al...
274 citations
TL;DR: The cone penetration test (CPT) has been gaining in popularity for site investigations due to the cost-effective, rapid, continuous, and reliable measurements as discussed by the authors, and is often referred to as a soil behaviour type (SBT) classification.
Abstract: A soil classification system is used to group soils according to shared qualities or characteristics based on simple cost-effective tests. The most common soil classification systems used in geotechnical engineering are based on physical (textural) characteristics such as grain size and plasticity. Ideally, geotechnical engineers would also like to classify soils based on behaviour characteristics that have a strong link to fundamental in situ behaviour. However, existing textural-based classification systems have a weak link to in situ behaviour, since they are measured on disturbed and remolded samples. The cone penetration test (CPT) has been gaining in popularity for site investigations due to the cost-effective, rapid, continuous, and reliable measurements. The most common CPT-based classification systems are based on behaviour characteristics and are often referred to as a soil behaviour type (SBT) classification. However, some confusion exists, since most CPT-based SBT classification systems use te...
216 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the collapse potential, mineralogy, microstructure, and particle morphology of a loess from the Loess Plateau, China, were characterized by double oedometer testing, X-ray diffraction, scanning ele...
Abstract: The collapse potential, mineralogy, microstructure, and particle morphology of a loess from the Loess Plateau, China, were characterized by double oedometer testing, X-ray diffraction, scanning ele...
175 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the behavior of the pile-soil interface is used to predict the response of floating piles in terms of displacement and lateral friction. But the authors focus on energy piles, which couple the structu...
Abstract: Behaviour of the pile–soil interface is important to correctly predict the response of floating piles in terms of displacement and lateral friction. Regarding energy piles, which couple the structu...
148 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a conventional direct shear apparatus equipped with a temperature control system was used to test sand, clay, and the clay-concrete interface at various temperatures (5, 20, and 40 °C).
Abstract: In the present work, the shear behaviour of soils and the soil–concrete interface is investigated through direct shear tests at various temperatures. A conventional direct shear apparatus, equipped with a temperature control system, was used to test sand, clay, and the clay–concrete interface at various temperatures (5, 20, and 40 °C). These values correspond to the range of temperatures observed near thermoactive geostructures. Tests were performed at normal stress values ranging from 5 to 80 kPa. Results show that the effect of temperature on the shear strength parameters of soils and the soil–concrete interface is negligible. A softening behaviour was observed during shearing of the clay–concrete interface, which was not the case with clay specimens. The peak strength of the clay–concrete interface is smaller than the ultimate shear strength of clay.
138 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, highway embankment construction has been identified as an avenue to consume huge amounts of calcium carbide residue (CCR), which is an industrial byproduct, stockpiles of which are rapidly accumulating worldwide.
Abstract: Calcium carbide residue (CCR) is an industrial by-product, stockpiles of which are rapidly accumulating worldwide. Highway embankment construction has been identified as an avenue to consume huge q...
126 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the use of microbial induced calcite pre-treatment has been explored as environmentally friendly alternatives to engineered soil methods in geotechnical engineering practices, and the results show that microbial calcite can be used as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional soil methods.
Abstract: Biological approaches have recently been explored as environmentally friendly alternatives to engineered soil methods in geotechnical engineering practices. The use of microbial induced calcite pre...
119 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a laboratory testing program was conducted to investigate the effects of microstructure on the water retention curve (WRC) and wetting-drying induced volume change in loess.
Abstract: A laboratory testing program was conducted to investigate the effects of microstructure on the water retention curve (WRC) and wetting–drying induced volume change in loess. The axis translation an...
118 citations
TL;DR: The National Building Code of Canada and the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code as mentioned in this paper are two national civil codes of practice that include geotechnical design provisions, and they have been used extensively in the construction of bridges.
Abstract: Canada has two national civil codes of practice that include geotechnical design provisions: the National Building Code of Canada and the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code. For structural designs...
104 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, flexible barriers are used for protection against extremely rapid landslides such as debris flow and debris avalanches, and they are shown to be a promising tool for protection.
Abstract: Flexible barriers are a promising tool for protection against extremely rapid landslides such as debris flow and debris avalanches. With landslide impacts of any size, the total force induced withi...
96 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a new water retention model for unsaturated soils, which takes into account capillary condensation of adsorbed water, was proposed, in which only the degree of saturation based on capillary water contributes to the variation of shear strength with suction.
Abstract: This paper proposes a new water retention model for unsaturated soils, which takes into account capillary condensation of adsorbed water. In this model, the degree of saturation of a soil is separated into that based on capillary water and that based on adsorbed water. Through analysis of a partially saturated two-cylinder system, a new shear strength criterion for unsaturated soils is proposed, in which only the degree of saturation based on capillary water contributes to the variation of shear strength with suction. The proposed shear strength criterion is justified against thermodynamic principles and is compared against existing criteria in the literature, which shows that it provides a much improved prediction of the experimental data for a wide range of suction values.
TL;DR: In this paper, a novel approach for soil stabilization by microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) using a new urease active catalyzer, named as "bioslurry", was presented.
Abstract: This paper presents a novel approach for soil stabilization by microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) using a new urease active catalyzer, named herein as “bioslurry”. The bioslurry, wh...
TL;DR: In this article, the mean, standard deviation, and scale of fluctuation for a soil property of a site investigation is reported. But, because information collected in a site inspection is limited, it is not possible to obtain actual values for the mean and standard deviation for a site property of intere...
Abstract: Because information collected in a site investigation is limited, it is not possible to obtain actual values for the mean, standard deviation, and scale of fluctuation for a soil property of intere...
TL;DR: In this article, the derivation of transformation models for undrained shear strength (su) of Finnish soft sensitive clays is discussed. But the main objective is to evaluate the interdependence of su, consolidation stresses, and index parameters and provide a consistent framework for practical use.
Abstract: The study focuses on the derivation of transformation models for undrained shear strength (su) of Finnish soft sensitive clays. Specific correlation equations for su of Finnish clays are presented in this work for the first time. Field and laboratory measurements from 24 test sites in Finland are exploited for this purpose and a multivariate database is constructed. The multivariate data consist of su from the field vane test, preconsolidation stress, vertical effective stress, liquid limit, plastic limit, natural water content, and sensitivity. The main objective is to evaluate the interdependence of su, consolidation stresses, and index parameters and provide a consistent framework for practical use. The new correlations are established through regression analyses. The constructed framework is further validated by another independent multivariate database of clays from Sweden and Norway as well as by empirical equations for Swedish and Norwegian clays. Existing correlations are evaluated for Finnish and...
TL;DR: In this article, an elastoplastic constitutive model for describing the stress-strain behavior of saturated frozen soils is proposed, where the total stress is divided into fluid pressure and solid phase stress.
Abstract: The mechanical behavior of frozen soils is strongly affected by the amount of ice. The amount of ice depends on the temperature and the applied mechanical stresses. The influence of ice content and temperature on the mechanical behavior and the coupling effects on the reverse direction can be mentioned as the main difference between frozen and unfrozen soils. In the light of this difference, an elastoplastic constitutive model for describing the stress–strain behavior of saturated frozen soils is proposed. By dividing the total stress into fluid pressure and solid phase stress, in addition to consideration of the cryogenic suction, the model is formulated within the framework of two-stress state variables. The proposed model is able to represent many of the fundamental features of the behavior of frozen soils, such as ice segregation phenomenon and strength weakening due to pressure melting. In the unfrozen state the model becomes a conventional critical state model. Typical predictions of the model for s...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the most hazardous problems in deep hard-rock mines, such as rockburst, where the rocks are loaded under a polyaxial condition before excavation, and upon excavation, the rocks at...
Abstract: Rockburst is an unstable rock failure and one of the most hazardous problems in deep hard-rock mines. Before excavation, rocks are loaded under a polyaxial condition. Upon excavation, the rocks at ...
TL;DR: In this paper, reactive magnesia (MgO)-activated ground granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS), with fixed GGBS dosages but varying MgO/GGBS ratios, was used for stabilization of two soils and compared with brucite.
Abstract: Reactive magnesia (MgO)-activated ground granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS), with fixed GGBS dosages but varying MgO/GGBS ratios, was used for stabilization of two soils and compared with brucite ...
TL;DR: The Harbin-Dalian high-speed railway in northeastern China has a significant portion of track foundation built on seasonally frozen ground, and wide-spread frost heave was observed during the first win this article.
Abstract: The Harbin–Dalian high-speed railway in northeastern China has a significant portion of track foundation built on seasonally frozen ground. Wide-spread frost heave was observed during the first win...
TL;DR: In this paper, an intensive experimental investigation by means of triaxial and oedometer tests was performed on a clayey loess that was retrieved from two depths at a location on the southern Chinese Loess Plate.
Abstract: An intensive experimental investigation by means of triaxial and oedometer tests was performed on a clayey loess that was retrieved from two depths at a location on the southern Chinese Loess Plate...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a number of experimental results of suction-controlled triaxial tests on a compacted weakly expansive soil with different suctions and suction histories.
Abstract: This paper presents a number of experimental results of suction-controlled triaxial tests on a compacted weakly expansive soil with different suctions and suction histories. In terms of suction control methods, the high suction level (from 3.29 to 38 MPa) was realized by the vapor equilibrium technique and the low suction level (from 0 to 800 kPa) was controlled by the axis translation technique. Results of the triaxial tests indicate that the specimen with higher suction shows higher strength and lower contractive and higher dilative volumetric strains, and the average skeleton stress ratio (q/p′) at failure decreases with increasing suction in the high suction range (3.29∼38 MPa). Given that suction during shearing is constant (e.g., 200 kPa), the specimen dried to a higher suction and the history shows higher strength and lower contractive volumetric strain. Experimental results also show that high pre-applied suction (i.e., the maximum suction in the history) can lead to peak strength, post-peak softe...
TL;DR: This paper aims to address the problem and develop an approach to determine the soil property profile from a limited number of measurement points when only limited measurement data are available.
Abstract: Variation of soil properties with depth, i.e., the soil property profile, is a key input in geotechnical design and analysis, and it is determined during geotechnical site characterization. Determi...
TL;DR: In this article, finite element analyses of pipeline-soil interaction for pipelines buried in dense sand subjected to lateral ground displacements are performed using the finite element (FE) algorithm.
Abstract: Finite element (FE) analyses of pipeline–soil interaction for pipelines buried in dense sand subjected to lateral ground displacements are presented in this paper. Analysis is performed — using the...
TL;DR: The artificial ground-freezing method has the dual effect of ground reinforcement and waterproof sealing, and the frozen curtain can be designed flexibly as discussed by the authors, which is widely used in the construction of c...
Abstract: The artificial ground-freezing method has the dual effect of ground reinforcement and waterproof sealing, and the frozen curtain can be designed flexibly. It is widely used in the construction of c...
TL;DR: In this paper, a simple but comprehensive cyclic stress-strain model that incorporates particle breakage for granular soils including ballast and rockfill has been proposed on the basis of bounding boxes.
Abstract: In this paper, a simple but comprehensive cyclic stress–strain model that incorporates particle breakage for granular soils including ballast and rockfill has been proposed on the basis of bounding...
TL;DR: In this paper, a methodology is presented to evaluate multi-directional forcedisplacement relationships for soil-pipeline interaction analysis and design, and large-scale tests of soil reaction to pipe lateral and u...
Abstract: A methodology is presented to evaluate multi-directional force–displacement relationships for soil–pipeline interaction analysis and design. Large-scale tests of soil reaction to pipe lateral and u...
TL;DR: In this paper, the interpretation of low-strain integrity tests of piles is commonly based on methods developed around the one-dimensional wave propagation theory, which is not the case in this paper.
Abstract: The interpretation of low-strain integrity tests of piles is commonly based on methods developed around the one-dimensional wave propagation theory. In reality, waves resulting from the impact of a...
TL;DR: Many mountainous areas in Campania, southern Italy, are characterized by steep slopes covered by unsaturated volcanic deposits as mentioned in this paper.Shallow landslides are frequently triggered by intense and persistent...
Abstract: Many mountainous areas in Campania, southern Italy, are characterized by steep slopes covered by unsaturated volcanic deposits. Shallow landslides are frequently triggered by intense and persistent...
TL;DR: In this article, a numerical model to simulate the hydraulic conductivity reduction observed during long-term laboratory column tests is proposed, where column tests are carried out to study dissolved heavy metals removal by using granular zero valent iron (ZVI).
Abstract: In this paper, a numerical model to simulate the hydraulic conductivity reduction observed during long-term laboratory column tests is proposed. The column tests are carried out to study dissolved heavy metals removal by using granular zero valent iron (ZVI). The proposed model is also used to analyse the main causes of hydraulic conductivity reduction observed during laboratory column tests. Expansive iron corrosion, precipitation of reaction products, and gas formation are the processes considered in the proposed model. Numerical simulation results show that to reproduce hydraulic behaviour of the experimental systems, the change of pores geometry due to expansive iron corrosion and precipitation of reaction products, which determines a possible stoppage of gas bubbles, should be considered. Furthermore, model results show that only a small percentage of the iron available is corroded during the tests (from 0.4% to 1.9%). According to the model, the average diameter of gas bubbles that better fit the ex...
TL;DR: In this article, a general closed-form solution for cohesive slopes with cross correlation between cohesion and unit weight was investigated and results compared with cases without cross correlation, and the factors of safety and probabilities of failure for the slopes with uncorrelated soil properties were obtained using probabilistic slope stability design charts previously reported by the writers.
Abstract: This paper focuses on the calculation of probability of failure of simple unreinforced slopes and the influence of the magnitude of cross correlation between soil parameters on numerical outcomes. A general closed-form solution for cohesive slopes with cross correlation between cohesion and unit weight was investigated and results compared with cases without cross correlation. Negative cross correlations between cohesion and friction angle and positive cross correlations between cohesion and unit weight, and friction angle and unit weight were considered in the current study. The factors of safety and probabilities of failure for the slopes with uncorrelated soil properties were obtained using probabilistic slope stability design charts previously reported by the writers. Results for cohesive soil slopes and positive cross correlation between cohesion and unit weight are shown to decrease probability of failure. Probability of failure also decreased for increasing negative cross correlation between cohesi...
TL;DR: In this article, the applicability of the effective stress principle as defined by Terzaghi (total stress minus pore-water pressure) to predict the behavior of expansive people is discussed.
Abstract: The central aim of this paper is to discuss the applicability of the effective stress principle as defined by Terzaghi (total stress minus pore-water pressure) to predict the behaviour of expansive...