An approach to evaluation of field CPTU dissipation data in overconsolidated fine-grained soils

Abstract

Dissipation of excess pore pressures during piezocone testing in firm to stiff overconsolidated fine-grained soils provides data curves that cannot be interpreted using published theoretical solutions. Available solutions are based on either cavity-expansion or strain-path methods, which have been developed for soft, normally consolidated soils and do not adequately model the response in overconsolidated soils. During penetration in overconsolidated soils, large pore-pressure gradients and unloading can exist as the soil moves past the singularity at the cone tip shoulder; these gradients modify the initial pore-pressure distribution around the tip and along the friction sleeve and give rise to nonstandard dissipation curves. The different types of response resulting from the modified pore-pressure distribution are discussed and classified and a correction technique is proposed. In this way, the application of available theoretical models can be used to evaluate in situ flow characteristics. Examples of the different types of pore-pressure response are presented from various sites worldwide.Key words: cone penetration test, in situ, clay, overconsolidation ratio, pore pressure, dissipation, consolidation.