EXCESS PORE PRESSURE BEHAVIOR IN THE CONSOLIDATION OF MARINE CLAY

Abstract

An experimental method to study the void ratio - coefficient of permeability and the void ratio - effective stress relationships for a clay in vertical consolidation with two horizontal drainage boundaries is presented. Contrary to the commonly accepted linear behavior, a bilinear void ratio - logarithm of coefficient of permeability relationship is established. The bilinear idealizations for void ratio - logarithm of effective stress and void ratio - logarithm of coefficient of permeability are used in the numerical analysis for the excess pore pressure behavior in the consolidation of marine clay. The effects of both vertical and radial drainage are taken into consideration. The results obtained by the proposed analysis are in close agreement with the field results from the pilot test at Changi Airport, Singapore, highlighting the occurrence of excess pore pressure stagnation during consolidation.