Compression and Creep of Venice Lagoon Sands
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 10
Abstract
A laboratory test program was conducted to evaluate the one-dimensional (1D) compression and creep properties of intact sand (and silty-sand) samples from a deep borehole at the Malamocco Inlet to the Venice Lagoon. The tests were performed with a constant rate of strain consolidometer and included special procedures for trimming the frozen samples and measuring strains during thawing and backpressure saturation. The specimens had variable fine fractions ranging from 6 to 21% and mica contents ranging from 1 to 10%. The results confirmed that there is a strong correlation between the creep rate coefficient and the compressibility index and between the swelling index and mica content. The compression behavior in all tests is well described by a nonlinear compression model with a unique limiting compression curve and a variable transition parameter that reflects the fines and mica content. Creep tests performed at different confining pressures are also well represented by a simple two-parameter model.
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Acknowledgments
This work was carried out through a collaborative project between the University of Brescia (Italy) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The writers wish to thank the Magistrato alle Acque and Consorzio Venezia Nuova for providing and shipping the soil samples and ISMgeo (Bergamo, Italy) for providing small strains stiffness experimental data.
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© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Jul 1, 2011
Accepted: Jan 10, 2012
Published online: Jan 12, 2012
Published in print: Oct 1, 2012
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