Anisotropic Stiffness and Shear Strength Characteristics of a Stiff Glacial Till
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 146, Issue 12
Abstract
Glacial tills are widespread across North America, northern and central Asia, and northern Europe, where they are also found under the Baltic, North, and Norwegian Seas. Their geological and geotechnical characterization is important to a wide range of onshore and offshore engineering projects. One aspect of tills on which little has been reported is their mechanical anisotropy. This paper reports coordinated hollow cylinder apparatus (HCA) tests, triaxial shearing, and small-strain stress probing experiments, supported by index testing, on high-quality samples of natural low-to-medium plasticity, high overconsolidation ratios (OCR) stiff clay-till from the Bolders Bank Formation at Cowden, near Hull in the UK. Material variability and sampling bias are inevitably introduced by the till’s erratic gravel particles and fissure systems, and these aspects are addressed carefully. The experiments investigated the till’s stiffness and shear strength anisotropy from its limited linear elastic range up to ultimate failure, showing that stiffnesses are higher in the horizontal direction than in the vertical and that higher undrained shear strengths develop under passive horizontal loading than active vertical loading. Comparisons are made between the till’s patterns of anisotropy and those applying to previously studied sediments, and reference is made to in situ stiffness measurements. The important implications of anisotropic behavior for geotechnical design and the interpretation of field tests are emphasized.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The Cowden rotary core and block sampling were undertaken by Concept Drilling Service Ltd and SOCOTEC, respectively, as part of the PISA JIP project managed by Ørsted. The PISA sponsors’ and Academic Working Group’s support is acknowledged. The authors also extend thanks for the financial support provided by a joint Imperial College and China Scholarship Council (IC-CSC) scholarship and Ørsted’s support through a Post-PISA Experimental Project. The authors are grateful to the Imperial College Geotechnics technical team, Steven Ackerley, Graham Keefe, Alan Bolsher, and Duncan Parker. Drs. Amandine Brosse (Geotechnical Consulting Group, UK) and Satoshi Nishimura (Hokkaido University, Japan) are also acknowledged for their helpful discussion.
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Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 146 • Issue 12 • December 2020
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© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Nov 4, 2019
Accepted: Jun 24, 2020
Published online: Sep 29, 2020
Published in print: Dec 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Feb 28, 2021
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