Excavation d'argile sensible au site de l'aménagement hydroélectrique LG-2

1985 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-194
Author(s):  
J. J. Paré ◽  
J. G. Lavallée

This paper is a review of the design adopted to establish the slopes for deep clay excavations (3 000 000 m3) made for founding rockfill embankment dams on bedrock and for clearing the tailrace tunnel portals at the LG-2 hydroelectric site. The design and excavation of soft sensitive clay deposits down to 22 m had been undertaken at a period of time when very few precedents were existing (1974). During the excavation works, only a few minor slides occurred, indicating that the design approach, using undrained shear strength analysis, was appropriate for the site conditions. Methods of excavation and hauling of material to disposal areas are also described. Key words: slope, sensitive clay, undrained strength analysis, safety factor, excavation method, behaviour.

1986 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Wasti ◽  
M. H. Bezirci

The liquid and plastic limits for a variety of natural and artificial soils covering a wide range of plasticity, as determined by the Casagrande method and the fall cone test and based on a strength criterion, were compared. To check the validity of the strength criterion, the undrained shear strength of these soils has been determined with a laboratory vane over the water content range between these limits. A limited comparison of the undrained strength values obtained from the vane test and fall cone test is also given. Key words: Atterberg limits, consistency, fall cone, laboratory vane, shear strength.


1999 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 907-933 ◽  
Author(s):  
C E (Fear) Wride ◽  
E C McRoberts ◽  
P K Robertson

When sandy soils respond in a strain-softening manner to undrained loading, an estimation of the resulting undrained shear strength (Su) is required to determine the potential for flow liquefaction at a given site. One of the most commonly used methods for estimating the undrained strength of liquefied sand is an empirical standard penetration test (SPT) based chart (originally proposed by H.B. Seed), which was developed using a number of case histories. The original interpretations of these case histories are viewed by many workers and regulatory agencies as the most authoritative measure of the liquefied strength of sand. Consequently, in comparison, other less conservative methods are generally held in an unfavourable light. This paper reexamines the original database of case histories in view of some more recent concepts regarding soil liquefaction. The objectives of this paper are to explore and reassess the issues involved in the original assessment and to offer alternative views of the case records. The conclusions presented here indicate that alternative explanations of the liquefied strength of sand are not inconsistent with the original case histories. Key words: sandy soils, soil liquefaction, undrained strength, standard penetration test (SPT).


Author(s):  
S. Okusa ◽  
N. Takahama ◽  
Y. Fujita

AbstractThe landslide activities in the Quaternary of the Japanese Islands have been controlled by active neotectonic movements and humid climatic conditions. Most of the present active landslides in Cenozoic muddy sediment in the Japanese Islands occur in the ancient landslides site. In the Musigame landslides site in the Cenozoic Niigata sedimentary basin, the present active landslides are concentrated along the fissures and cracks in the ancient primary landslide blocks. The initial failure of the primary Musigame landslides might have occurred in the mudstone with the intact undrained shear strength and the retrogressive failures with a combination of the intact undrained shear strength and residual undrained strength. Secondary and presently active landslides have occurred in the previously disturbed mudstone in accordance with the residual drained shear strength. The analysis of the occurrence, movement and history of the primary and secondary landslides is essential to understand the present activity of landslide.


Author(s):  
Ray Kennedy ◽  
W. Andy Take ◽  
Gregory A. Siemens

Sensitive clay landslides represent a significant geohazard due to their well-known potential for extensive retrogressive failures, on the scale of multiple hectares, which could encompass surrounding communities and infrastructure. Interpretation of retrogression mechanisms is often limited since only forensic investigations are possible. This work presents the results of a physical modelling study to examine retrogressive failures, analysis of each failure episode, and interpretation of the results using published relationships. Five novel centrifuge model tests were conducted under a defined range of undrained shear strength and slope angle conditions. The models are constructed of a sensitive cement-soil mixture that allows for a consistent contractile material with bespoke shear strength. Results indicate the observed retrogression distance correlates with Taylor’s stability number. The addition of a 5-degree slope angle to invoke a static shear stress on the model provoked notably larger retrogression distances. Post-test undrained shear strength measurements quantified softening of the material along the failure surface. Stability analyses on each failure episode captured the observed failure geometry and factor of safety. Results indicate that the geometric parameters of a slope, specifically the slope angle, may be able to explain a component of the scatter for relating the Taylor’s stability number with retrogression distances.


2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Black ◽  
V Sivakumar ◽  
J D McKinley

This paper reports an experimental study in which samples of soft kaolin clay (100 mm in diameter and 200 mm in height) were reinforced with vertical columns of sand and tested under triaxial conditions. Samples were reinforced with either a single column of sand of 32 mm diameter or three columns of sand, each of 20 mm diameter. The replacement method was used to form the columns. The columns were installed in the clay to depths of 120 and 200 mm. Tests were also carried out on samples that were not reinforced with sand columns. The samples were compressed under both drained and undrained conditions. It was found that the undrained shear strength of samples containing full-depth columns was greatly improved compared with that of the unreinforced samples. In the fully drained tests, the sample installed with a single column of 32 mm diameter exhibited better performance than the sample with three columns of 20 mm diameter, although the area replacement ratio in the case of the three 20 mm diameter columns was higher than that of the single 32 mm diameter column. However, the undrained strength of the composite material was not particularly affected by the number of columns.Key words: Ground improvement, undrained shear strength, consolidation, stress path, settlement.


1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy Lefebvre ◽  
Peter Rosenberg ◽  
Jean Paquette ◽  
J. G. Lavallée

The September 5, 1987, landslide at kilometre 82.5 on La Grande River affected a slope about 60 m high inclined at about 35°. The site had been identified as presenting high risks of a major landslide and had been under observation for several years. The conditions existing before the landslide are relatively well documented from a deep boring put down in 1975 at the slide location and from prior observations and photographs of the river bank erosion. The overburden deposit, sand at the ground surface changing to a silty clay at depth, was normally consolidated but affected by a strong underdrainage. Stability analyses confirm the strong underdrainage deduced from the 1975 piezometric reading. The slide retrogressed 290 m from the river on a surface inclined at 6°. The location of the retrogression surface appears related to the undrained shear strength profile. Key words: landslide, earthflow, sensitive clay, groundwater, river erosion, slope stability.


2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 1138-1155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajib Dey ◽  
Bipul Hawlader ◽  
Ryan Phillips ◽  
Kenichi Soga

Post-slide investigations suggest that many large-scale submarine landslides occur through marine sensitive clay layers. A nonlinear mathematical model for post-peak degradation of undrained shear strength of sensitive clay is proposed based on experimental results. A method for estimation of model parameters is presented. Incorporating the model, an analytical solution is developed to examine possible mechanisms of large-scale submarine landslides. Analyses are performed for mild infinite slopes where the failure initiates from a “fully weakened zone” of soil having undrained shear strength lower than the shear stress acting parallel to the slope. The driving force, in excess of resistance, generated from the fully weakened zone is then transferred to the surrounding soil elements resulting in shear band formation due to strain-softening behaviour of sensitive clays. When the length of the fully weakened zone is greater than a critical length, catastrophic shear band propagation (self-driven without any additional external force) occurs, which could result in large-scale offshore landslides. A simple design chart is developed to calculate the critical length. Compared with a 2005 study by Puzrin and Germanovich based on a linear post-peak shear strength degradation model, the present study gives a conservative estimation of critical length for catastrophic shear band propagation.


Baltica ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 246-252
Author(s):  
Domas Gribulis ◽  
Kastytis Dundulis ◽  
Saulius Gadeikis ◽  
Sonata Gadeikienė

This article presents results of the test conducted on the undrained shear strength of till clayey soils of Eastern Lithuania, which are characterized by rigid and very stiff consistency and low plasticity. According to the classification of soils presented in LST EN ISO 14688–2:2018 Geotechnical Investigation and Testing – Identification and Classification of Soil − Part 2: Principles for a Classification, the tested soils are classified as sandy low plasticity clays. The undrained shear strength was tested using the triaxial compression (unconsolidated undrained) method. The test results showed that peculiarities of the particle size distribution had a crucial impact on the undrained strength of these soils, i.e. on the correlation of clay and fine silt fractions with the rest of soil components.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Tahar Ayadat

The undrained shear strength is a paramount parameter in determining the consistency and the ultimate bearing capacity of a clay layer. This resistance can be determined by in-situ tests, such as the field vane test or by laboratory tests, including the portable vane test, the triaxial, the simple compression test, and the consistency penetrometer test (i.e. the Swedish cone). However, the field vane test and the Swedish cone are the most commonly test used by geotechnical experts. In this paper, relationships between the field undrained shear strength of sensitive clay and some laboratory soil properties were developed. The soil properties consisted of the percentage of fine particles (less than 2 µm), the moisture content and the Atterberg limits. Furthermore, a correlation was proposed associating between the undrained shear strength of sensitive clay as obtained by the field vane test and the laboratory cone penetration test (Swedish cone). In addition, some applications of the proposed correlation on some geotechnical problems were included, such as the determination of the consistency and the bearing capacity of a clay layer. Comparison of the results of the developed correlations with the experimental results of the present investigation and the results reported in the literature show acceptable agreement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 5496-5500
Author(s):  
A. H. Bhutto ◽  
G. S. Bhurgri ◽  
S. Zardari ◽  
M. A. Zardari ◽  
R. Bhanbhro ◽  
...  

Numerical analysis for the safe rate determination of lowering of an embankment dam was performed in this study with the use of the finite element method. Coupled deformation and consolidation analysis were carried out for staged construction and drawdown of a 59m embankment dam for varying undrained shear strength of the clay core. The lowering of the reservoir was performed at different depths between two extreme scenarios, i.e. rapid lowering rate (1m/day) and slow lowering rate (0.1m/day). The reservoir of the dam was lowered to a depth from 10m to 55m in gradual increments. The results indicated that the safety of the dam was satisfactory when the reservoir was lowered at the quick rate for a depth of 10m, 20m, 30m respectively when the undrained shear strength of the clay core was taken as 20, 25 and 30kN/m2. Regarding the case of slow drawdown rate of the reservoir, it was found that the reservoir could be lowered up to a depth of 55m at a rate of 0.1m/day when the undrained strength of clay core was 25kN/m2. The stability of the dam was also found satisfactory even though the reservoir was lowered at a rate of 0.25m/day for a depth of 55m when the undrained shear strength of clay core was 30kN/m2.


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