TECHNICAL PAPERS
Jul 1, 1987

Uncertainties in Evaluation of Strength of Marine Sand

Publication: Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 113, Issue 7

Abstract

The strength of a marine sand is investigated by means of cone penetration tests and plate load tests, and by measurement of the resistance against penetration by the steel skirts underneath a gravity platform. Several methods are used to interpret the test results and to evaluate the angle of internal friction, ϕ. Probability methods are used to analyze the uncertainty about ϕ due to spatial variation in the data and model errors in the equations used for interpretation. It is found that different methods of interpretation give different values of the internal friction. The correct value of ϕ cannot be determined with certainty because the errors in the interpretive models are not well known. Hence, subjective opinion is introduced as a means of exercising the engineer's judgment. Bayesian updating is used to combine the results obtained by the different tests. The methods illustrate how the various uncertainties may be combined to arrive at the most likely value of the angle of internal friction and the uncertainties about that value.

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Go to Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 113Issue 7July 1987
Pages: 719 - 738

History

Published online: Jul 1, 1987
Published in print: Jul 1987

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Authors

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Tien H. Wu, F. ASCE
Prof. of Civ. Engrg., Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH 43210
In‐Mo Lee
Grad. Res. Assoc., Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH 43210
John C. Potter, M. ASCE
Civ. Engr., U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS 39180
Oddvar Kjekstad
Civ. Engr., Norwegian Geotech. Inst., Oslo, Norway

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