Shear Modulus of Kaolin Containing Methane Bubbles
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 120, Issue 5
Abstract
Measurements of undrained shear moduli are reported from a program of laboratory tests on reconstituted kaolin samples containing relatively large bubbles of methane gas. The experimental program included low‐frequency torsional stress‐strain loops and torsional resonant column tests, providing values of shear moduli for shear‐strain amplitudes from 0.0004% to 0.1%. At all values of strain amplitude, the reduction of shear moduli caused by the presence of gas bubbles was greater than predicted by a theoretical elastic expression. This pattern of behavior was attributed to the formation of local yield zones around the gas‐bubble cavities during consolidation prior to shear testing (a phenomenon that would also occur in‐situ within offshore sediments). The results of the research program suggest that reductions in shear moduli of up to 50% could be caused by relatively small volumes of gas bubbles, occupying just a few percent of the total soil volume. This would have considerable significance for the displacements of offshore foundations constructed on sediments containing undissolved gas.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 120 • Issue 5 • May 1994
Pages: 781 - 796
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 10, 1991
Published online: May 1, 1994
Published in print: May 1994
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