Estimating Strength of Stabilized Dredged Fill Using Multivariate Normal Model
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 11
Abstract
Various empirical equations have been proposed to estimate the unconfined compressive strength () of cement-treated soils based on the proportions of water, cement, and clay or based on measured early strength. Most equations provide only a point estimate of and no measure of uncertainties associated with the estimation. As the design’s safety level is governed by the uncertainties involved, it is essential to quantify uncertainties associated with the estimation. The coefficient of variation (COV) is taken as a measure of uncertainties. It is straightforward to estimate the mean and COV of based on a single parameter. Similar estimation based on multiple parameters, which may be intercorrelated, is not as straightforward. This paper aims to integrate multiple parameters (water-to-cement ratio, cement content, and 7-day strength) that may contribute to the estimation of 91-day strength using a multivariate normal distribution. The multivariate normal model can be used to derive the mean, COV, and the 95% confidence interval of 91-day at given values of the governing parameters. This confidence interval provides richer information on than the single value provided by most empirical equations. Results show that incorporating more parameters in the estimation of reduces the bias and the COV; thus, a more accurate estimate is obtained. Data of stabilized dredged fill (SDF) from a real land reclamation project are used to demonstrate the approach.
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Acknowledgments
The work presented in this paper is a part of a research project supported by the Ministry of National Development (MND) Research Fund for the Built Environment. The financial support is greatly appreciated. The authors also acknowledge the invaluable assistance offered by the Housing and Development Board of Singapore and Surbana International Consultants.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 11 • November 2013
Pages: 1944 - 1953
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 1, 2012
Accepted: Feb 4, 2013
Published online: Oct 15, 2013
Published in print: Nov 1, 2013
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