Mobilized Shear Strength of Overconsolidated Seattle Clays
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 6
Abstract
The drained shear strength of overconsolidated glaciolacustrine clays in the Seattle area can range from the overconsolidated peak to residual strength depending on its geologic history, depth, softening, prior shear displacements, size of excavation, and application, e.g., long-term cut slope versus short-term braced excavation. An inverse analysis of slope failures shows the mobilized shear strength for cut slopes in the overconsolidated and sparsely jointed Qvgl glaciolacustrine clay ranges from the fully softened strength to in between fully softened and residual strength depending on the level of jointing, prior shear displacements, assumed piezometric levels, and Atterberg limits used in the analysis. Conversely, an inverse analysis of a 2011 slope failure in the frequently jointed and random slickensided overconsolidated Qpgl glaciolacustrine clay shows the mobilized shear strength for this deposit near residual to in between residual and fully softened strengths because of repeated glaciation cycles, softening, and local shear displacements due to glacial bulldozing, solifluction, and high lateral stresses.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author upon request.
Acknowledgments
The contents and views in this paper are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of any of the corporations, contractors, agencies, e.g., National Science Foundation, consultants, organizations, and/or contributors involved with projects involving Seattle clays. The first author also appreciates the financial support of the National Science Foundation (NSF Award CMMI-1562010).
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 6 • June 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 27, 2023
Accepted: Jan 22, 2024
Published online: Apr 12, 2024
Published in print: Jun 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Sep 12, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Analysis (by type)
- Clays
- Consolidated soils
- Engineering fundamentals
- Failure analysis
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Material mechanics
- Material properties
- Materials engineering
- Overconsolidated soils
- Residual soils
- Shear strength
- Soft soils
- Soil mechanics
- Soil properties
- Soil strength
- Soils (by type)
- Strength of materials
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