Undrained cavity expansion in modified Cam clay II: Application to the interpretation of the piezocone test

Abstract

This paper presents an interpretation of the piezocone test in clay based on a simplified theoretical solution of cavity expansion in modified Cam clay. The cone resistance and the pore pressures measured on the cone tip and just behind the cone tip are interpreted using the framework of cavity expansion theories with due consideration of the effect of strain rate and the initial stress state. Methods for estimating the overconsolidation ratio, the undrained shear strength and the rigidity index of clay are proposed. A comparison of results obtained from the proposed methods with published data and limited field data collected in the Singapore marine clay indicates the validity of the proposed analysis methods.