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SOIL MECHANICS AND

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

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S E C T I O N III
F I E L D I N VE S T I G A T I ON S

S U B - S E C T I O N Ilia
BOR I NG AND S AMP LI NG

a g RAMP LI NG DI S T UR BANCE AND I T S E F F E CT ON ANALYT I CAL S OLUT I ONS TO S O I L P ROBLEMS

J AMES D . P ARSONS
Co n s u l t i n g En g i n e e r Mo r a n , P r o c t o r , F r e e m e n &. Mu e s e r
Ne w Yo r k , N. Y.

SUMMARY
Th e a p p l i c a b i l i t y o f a n a l y t i c a l s o l u t i o n s t o f o u n d a t i o n p r o b l e m s d e p e n d s
l a r g e l y on t h e d e g r e e t o wh i c h t h e s o i l p r o p e r t i e s a s s u me d t h e r e i n a p p r o xi m a t e
t h o s e of t he s o i l s i n s i t u . Si n c e t h e s e p r o p e r t i e s a r e u s u a l l y de t e r m i n e d fr om
l a b o r a t o r y t e s t s on u n d i s t u r b e d s a mp l e s , t h e t e c h n i q u e s a n d equi pment empl oyed
i n t h e s e o p e r a t i o n s h a v e a n i m p o r t a n t b e a r i n g o n t h e i r r e l i a b i l i t y . Th e f o l l o w ­
i n g d i s c u s s i o n p e r t a i n s t o s ampl e d i s t u r b a n c e , and i t s e f f e c t on a n a l y t i c a l
so l ut i ons t o s o i l pr oblems.

S i n c e , i n mos t c a s e s , t h e e s s e n t i a l i n ­ and t he f o l l o wi n g d i s c u s s i o n i s l i m i t e d t her e- ■

f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t he l o c a t i o n , e xt e n t , and f o r e t o t h i s g r o .u p .
physical c har act er is t ics of s o il for mat ions Th e t e r m "u n d i s t u r b e d s a m p l e s " i s a c t u a l ­
ar e obt ained fr om s o i l bor ings and l abor at or y l y a misnomer , s i n c e i t i s i m po s s i bl e t o ge t
a n a l y s e s o f s ampl es r e c o v e r e d t h e r e f r o m , t he t r u l y u n d i s t u r b e d s peci mens o f s o i l , be c a us e
impor t ance of a ccur a cy i n t h i s phas e of s o i l ■ o f t he change i n t he s t r e s s c o n di t i o n s of t he
m e c h a n i c s i s s e l f - e v i d e n t . Th e c h o i c e o f b o r ­ sampl es as a r e s u l t o f t h e i r r emoval fr om t he
i n g met hods and s a mp l i ng d e v i c e s t o be u t i l i z ­ g r o u n d . F o r t u n a t e l y , we a r e a b l e i n m a n y c a s e s
ed f o r a ny one i n v e s t i g a t i o n de p e nds l a r g e l y t o evaluat e t his change.
o n :- Si n c e t h e t y p e o f s a m p l e r u t i l i z e d f o r
( a ) Av a i l a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e c h a r a c t e r s e cu r i ng u n di s t ur be d sampl es ha s an impor t ant
and u ni f o r m i t y of t he s o i l c on di t i o n s b e a r i n g on t he q u a l i t y o f s ampl e r e c o v e r e d , a
pr evailing. b r i e f d i s c u s s i o n o f s ampl er d e s i g n and oper a­
(b ) Wh e t h e r t h e e x p l o r a t i o n p r o g r a m i s p r e ­ t i o n f o l l o w s :-
l i m i n a r y or f i n a l .
( c ) Th e n a t u r e o f t h e s t r u c t u r e s c o n s i d e r e d UNDI S TURBE D S AMP LI NG E QUI P ME NT
for t he ar ea i n quest ion. I n t h e d e s i g n o f s a m p l e r s t h e mos t i mp o r ­
( d ) Th e p u r p o s e f o r w h i c h t h e s o i l s a m p l e s t ant f e a t u r e s t o b e c o n s i d e r e d a r e :-
are t aken. 1 . I n s i d e Cl e a r a n c e
( e ) Th e c h a r a c t e r o f t h e s o i l . 2 . Ar e a R a t i o
Th e d e f i n i t i o n o f e a c h i s i n c l u d e d i n F i g u r e 1 ,
Th e m e t h o d s i n c o mmo n u s e t o d a y m a y b e wi t h t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g f i g u r e s f o r t h e s a m p l e r s
b r i e f l y s u m m a r i z e d a s f o l l o w s :- s h o wn .
(a ) So i l S o u n d i n g Me t h o d s In s i de cl ea r a nce c o n t r o l s , t o a l a r ge de­
g r e e , t h e a mount o f f r i c t i o n d e v e l o p e d b e t we e n
(b ) Wa s h S a m p l e B o r i n g s
t h e w a l l s o f t h e s a m p l e t u b e a n d s a m p l e . Wh i l e
(c ) Au g e r Bo r i n g s t h i s f r i c t i o n a s s i s t s t o r e t a i n t h e s ampl e du r ­
i n g wi t h d r a wa l f r o m t h e g r o u n d , i t s h o u l d b e a
(d ) Ge o p h y s i c a l Me t h o d s
mi ni mum, t o a v o i d d i s t u r b a n c e o f t h e s a m p l e .
(e ) Te s t Pit s Wi t h a n i n c r e a s e i n s a m p l e r w a l l t h i c k n e s s ,
t her e i s a pr onounced incr eas e i n t he r e s i s t ­
(f ) Co r e Bo r i n g s
ance t o p e n e t r a t i o n , and i n c r e a s i n g da nger of
(g ) Dr y S a m p l e B o r i n g s e xc e s s s o i l e n t e r i n g t he s a mpl e r . It i s impor ­
t ant t hat t he ar e a r a t i o be as l ow as p o s s i b l e .
(h ) Un d i s t u r b e d Sa m p l e B o r i n g s
Ot h e r f e a t u r e s i n t h e d e s i g n o f s a m p l e r s
Wi t h t h e p o s s i b l e e x c e p t i o n o f "Wa s h S a m p l e are
B o r i n g s ", a l l t h e s e m e t h o d s h a v e v e r y d e f i n i t e
pl a c e s i n our expl o r a t or y pr ogr ams . (a ) Th e r a t i o of lengt h to diamet er (L/D).
An a l y t i c a l s o l u t i o n s t o f o u n d a t i o n p r o ­ (b ) Me t h o d and r a t e o f f o r c i n g s ampl er i n ­
bl ems r e q u i r e c e r t a i n da t a p e r t a i n i n g t o t he t o t he gr ound.
p h y s i c a l p r o p e r t i e s o f t h e s o i l s i n v o l v e d .Su c h (c ) Es c a p e o f wa t e r d u r i n g d r i v i n g , a n d
dat a ar e u s u a l l y o bt a ined fr om l abor at o r y t est s
t he r e l i e f o f p r e s s u r e du r i n g wi t h ­
of s o i l s ampl es r e c o v e r e d b y u n d i s t u r b e d s ampl ­
d r a wa l .
i n g m e t h o d s . On l y w i t h i n t h e l a s t t e n t o f i f ­
t een ye a r s have s u i t a bl e s ampl ing and t e s t i n g Th e a b o v e f a c t o r s a r e i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e
t e c h n i q u e s a n d e q u i p m e n t b e e n .d e v i s e d t o p e r ­ n a t u r e o f t he s o i l b e i n g s a m p l e d, and no one
mi t t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f p r o p e r t i e s wh i c h c l os e ­ sampl er i s s u i t e d t o a l l s o i l s .
l y a p p r o x i m a t e t h o s e o f s o i l s i n s i t u . Th e a p ­ F i g u r e 1 s h o ws t h r e e w i d e l y u s e d "u n d i s ­
p l i c a t i o n o f s u c h m e t h o d s , h o we v e r , h a s b e e n t u r b e d " s a m p l i n g s p o o n s . Wi t h o u t g o i n g i n t o a
l i m i t e d t o c o mmo n p l a s t i c a n d c o h e s i v e s o i l s , t e c h n i c a l d i s c u s s i o n o f e a c h , i t maLy b e s e e n
64

t u b e i s a t t a c h e d . Th e t u b e i s s h a r p e n e d a n d
d r a wn i n a t t h e e n d a n d ma y b e i n v a r i o u s
l e n g t h s . Th i s s p o o n w i l l r e c o v e r mo s t c o h e s i v e
Sc* i*-« r
w *. 1 s o i l s p r a c t i c a l l y f r e e f r o m d i s t u r b a n c e . Th e
A .= 56 5 * lc= l.0 7 y- ° **
i n s i d e c l ea r a n c e and L/D r a t i o u t i l i z e d depends
. < e * ) 'i 0 i . .. » ..» ^
on t he c o n s i s t e n c y of t he s o i l and i s v a r i e d
<0 MORAN AND PROCTOR SAMPLER accor dingly.
Wh i l e s a m p l e r ( c ) w a s n o t d e s i g n e d s p e c i ­
f i c a l l y f o r ext r emel y s o ft s o i l s , i t s per for m­
t SCAT ance i n t h i s connect ion i s o ut s t a ndi ng. I t i s
- SCTt W
•HOO. BOTTOM SCCTKM THM *ÍU TUSE e s s e n t i a l l y l i k e ( b ) , e xc e p t f o r a p i s t o n wi t h
r o d s e x t e n d i n g t o t h e s u r f a c e . Th e p i s t o n is
I A *= 9.95 lc*= 0 .9 3
c l a mp e d f l u s h wi t h t h e c u t t i n g e d g e , wh i l e
s a m p l e r i s l o w e r e d i n t o t h e h o l e . At t h e d e s i r ­
ASSEMBLY r ed s a mp l i ng l o c a t i o n t h e p i s t o n r o d i s u n d a m p ­
b) THIN WALL SHELBY TUBE S A M PLER (6) ed fr om t h e s ampl er r o ds a n d cl amped t o t h e
M.PF. & M.
c a s i n g . Th e p i s t o n i s h e l d s t a t i o n a r y w h i l e t h e
sampl er i s f o r c e d i n t o t he s o i l , t h us p e r m i t t ­
« • a t o p St e n o «,
HtAO-BOTTCU SECTION
TW* WALL T U « i n g a d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e l e n g t h o f s ampl e and
t he s t r oke of t he s ampl er .
Mo s t u n d i s t u r b e d b o r i n g s a r e m a d e i n p i p e
8 A „ = ll.8 * °‘ l(.= l.0 8 %‘ c a s i n g dr i v e n t o t he l o c a t i o n o f t h e sampl es
ASSEMBLY 1 r e q u i r e d , t h e m a t e r i a l fr o m wi t h i n b e i n g r emov­
c) S & H IMPROVED STATIONARY PISTO N T Y P E S A M P L E R (1 )
e d b y w a s h i n g , a n d t h e s a m p l e s r e c o v e r e d i mn e -
d i a t e l y bel ow t he c a s i n g bot t om. Impor t a nt i n
t h i s met hod i s t h e c o mp l e t e r e mo v a l o f m a t e r i a l
fr om wi t h i n t h e c a s i n g wi t h o u t d i s t u r b a n c e t o
t h e s o i l b e l o w, so t h a t t h e s a mp l e s w i l l be
f r e e f r o m e x t r a n e o u s m a t e r i a l . Wi t h o p e n w a s h
r o d s t h e j e t v e l o c i t i e s o f t e n bec ome s o h i g h
t h a t h o l e s a r e j e t t e d b e l o w t h e c a s i n g . Se c ­
d) M.PF&M. C LE A N -O U T JET AUGER t i o n s t h r o u g h a s a m p l e s o e f f e c t e d a r e s h o wn i n
F i g u r e 3 ( d ) . Th e c l e a n - o u t j e t a u g e r , F i g u r e
1 C d ) , wa s d e s i g n e d t o o v e r c o m e t h i s d i f f i c u l t y
AREA RATIO (2 ) INSIDE CLEARANCE!2 )
r t i s c l o s e f i t t i n g i n t h e c a s i n g , t o r emove
D » - 0.
A„ = - 2 ^ - ä «1 0 0 * It =- 100 ' s o il adher ing t o t he c as ing. It s je t hol es ar e
i n c l i n e d u p wa r d a n d p r o t e c t e d f r o m j e t t i n g b e ­
l o w . I t f u n c t i o n s a s a wa s h r o d t o w i t h i n a
few inches of t he bot t om o f t he c a s i n g, a ft e r
w h i c h t h e j e t s ma y b e s t o p p e d , a n d t h e a u g e r
r ot a t ed, per mit t ing t he r emaining mat er ial t o
be cut int o t he bucket .
F i g u r e 2 s h o ws a s e t - u p f o r a c o n t i n u o u s
d r i v e o f t h e s a m p l e r b y me a n s o f a wi n c h a nd
b l o c k a n d t a c k l e . Th e c o n t i n u o u s d r i v e e l i m i n ­
at es t he object ionably st r ong vibr at ions pr o­
du c e d b y a ha mme r , a n d t h e s a mp l e s s o o b t a i n e d
a r e mu c h l e s s d i s t u r b e d t h a n wh e n a h a mme r i s
used.
In spit e of t he pr ecaut ions t aken t o r e ­
cover good s ampl es , t hey a r e o f t e n r ender ed
unus uabl e by t he a f f e c t s of shock i n t r ans po r t ­
a t i o n a n d h a n d l i n g . Mo s t s o f t i n o r g a n i c a n d o r ­
ganic s i l t s ar e p a r t i c u l a r l y s e n s i t i v e t o shock.

VI S U AL E VI DE NCE OF DI S T UR BANCE
Di s t u r b a n c e , a s w e l l a s s t r a t i f i c a t i o n
and homogeneit y, can u s u a l l y be demonst r at ed
by c u t t i n g t h i n s e c t i o n s fr om sampl es end a l ­
l o wi n g t h e m t o d r y u n d e r a t m o s p h e r i c c o n d i t i o n s .
F i g u r e 3 s h o ws f o u r t h i n s e c t i o n s c u t a n d d r i e d
fr om s o - c a l l e d u n di s t u r b e d sampl es i n t he above
m a n n e r . Sp e c i m e n s ( a ) a n d ( b ) a r e f r o m a s i l t y
c l a y d e p o s i t . S p e c i m e n ( a ) w a s o b t a i n e d i n Sa m ­
p l e r ( a j , (F i g u r e l ) b y d r i v i n g wi t h a h a mme r ,
w h i l e S p e c i m e n ( b ) wa s o b t a i n e d i n 3 i n c h s a m ­
p l e r , F i g u r e 1 ( b ) . Th e s a m p l e s p o o n u t i l i z e d
f o r o b t a i n i n g S p e c i m e n ( b ) , h o w e v e r , wa s f o r c e d
i n t o t h e s o i l i n one s moot h c o n t i n u o u s d r i v e .
Th e d i s t o r t i o n o f Sp e c i m e n ( a ) r e s u l t e d f r o m
FIG. 2 e xc e s s i v e i n s i d e wa l l f r i c t i o n a t t r i b u t e d t o
t h a t t h e wa l l s o f (a ) ar e t h i c k e r t h a n t ho s e of t he ent r ance of exces s ma t er ia l int o t he spoon
( b ) o r ( c ) . Wh i l e ( a ) w a s c o n s i d e r e d o n e o f t h e a n d t o v i b r a t i o n c a u s e d b y t h e h a mme r . Sp e c i m e n
b e s t s a m p l e r s o f i t s t i m e , r e s e a r c h h a s s h o wn (b ) de mo ns t r a t e s t he impr oved r e s u l t s a s s o c i a t ­
t h a t i t s a r e a r a t i o o f 5 6 .5 % i s t o o h i g h t o ob­ e d wi t h t h e u s e o f t h i n wa l l e d s a m p l e r s p u s h e d
t a i n good u n di s t ur be d s a mpl es . i n t o t he s o i l by t he cont inuous d r i v e met hod.
S a m p l e r ( b ) , ( A , = 9 *9 9 0 a c o n s i d e r a b l e Sp e c i m e n ( c ) o f F i g u r e 3 d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e
i mpr ovement over ( a ) , c o n s i s t s o f a h e a d and a s u c c e s s f u l u s e o f s a m p l e r s o f t h e "p i s t o n t y p e "
s h o r t s e c t i o n o f p i p e t o wh i c h a t h i n wa l l e d i n s a m p l i n g s o f t s o i l s . T h i s s p e c i m e n wa s o f
 65

a. Va r v e d clay r eco ver ed wi t h sampler (a ) b. Sa m e var ved clay recover ed wi t h sampler (b )

figur e 1 figur e 1

c. Ve r y s o f t r i v e r mu d r e c o v e r e d wi t h d. Ov e r j e t t i n g wi t h open t ype wa s h pipe

sampler (c ) f i g u r e 1

Ph o t o gr a p h s of t hin sect ions from samples

FIG. 3
o r g a n i c s i l t w h i c h wa s s o s o f t t hat unconfined and quick t es t s .
compr ess ion t e s t s coul d not be per for med t h e r e ­ To s h o w t h e e f f e c t o f d i s t u r b a n c e o n o n e
on. s p e c ific t ype of t r i a xi a l compr ession or shear
t e s t , t he f a i l u r e envel ope fo r a s e r i e s of con­
E F F E C T OF DI S T U R B AN C E ON L AB OR AT OR Y S T R E NGT H so l idat ed- quick t e s t s on r emolded specimens i s
i n c l u d e d i n F i g u r e 4 . As m a y b e s e e n , s a m p l e
DE TE R MI NATI ONS
dist ur bance has a t endency t o incr eas e t he
In pr obl ems p e r t a i n i n g t o s o i l s t a b i l i t y , v a l u e fr om 17° t o 2 1 °, de pe n di n g on t he de gr e e
no s o i l p r o p e r t y p l a y s a s i m p o r t a n t a p a r t a s o f d i s t u r b a n c e . He n c e , h v u s i n g c o n s o l i d a t e d -
s h e a r i n g s t r e n g t h . Th e s e v e r a l l a b o r a t o r y t e s t s q u i c k t e s t r e s u l t s wh i c h h a v e b e e n a f f e c t e d by
devel oped fo r det er mining t h i s pr oper t y ar e t he d i s t u r b a n c e , we a r e o n t h e u n s a f e s i d e i n s o f a r
unc o nfi ned c ompr es s ion, di r e c t s hear and t r i a x- a s mo s t o f o u r a n a l y t i c a l s o l u t i o n s a r e c o n c e r n ­
i a l c o m p r e s s i o n t e s t s . Th e u n c o n f i n e d c o m p r e s s ­ ed. Th e r a n g e b e t w e e n t h e u n d i s t u r b e d a n d d i s ­
i o n t e s t , be c a us e of i t s s i m p l i c i t y and a p p l i c ­ t u r b e d r e s u l t s ma y w e l l b e i n e x c e s s o f t h e m a r ­
a b i l i t y , i s p e r h a p s t h e mos t wi d e l y u s e d . Th e g i n n o r m a l l y a l l o we d f o r t h e f a c t o r o f s a f e t y .
r e s ul t s of a l l t hr ee t ypes of t e s t s ar e s i gn i ­ Al s o s h o wn i n F i g u r e 4 a r e t b e r e s u l t s o f
f i c a n t l y e f f e c t e d b y s ampl e d i s t u r b a n c e . unconfined compr ession t e s t s on r emol ded, d i s ­
F i g u r e 4 s h o ws t h e r e s u l t s o f d i r e c t t u r b e d , a n d u n d i s t u r b e d s p e c i m e n s . Th e c o m p r e s s ­
s hea r , t r i a x i a l and unco nfined compr ess ion t e s t s i ve s t r e ngt h of t he un di s t ur be d specimen i s
of u n di s t ur be d sampl es o f o r ga ni c s i l t y c l a y 1 . 5 k g / c m2, wh i c h i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y f i v e t i m e s
f r o m S p a r r o w s P o i n t , Ma r y l a n d , i n d i c a t i n g a v a ­ t h a t f o r t h e r e m o l d e d s p e c i m e n . Ma n y c l a y s e x ­
r i a t i o n i n t he angle of int e r nal f r i c t i o n , de­ h i b i t a s m u c h a s 50 p e r c e n t l o s s o f s t r e n g t h
p e n d i n g o n t h e t e s t i n g p r o c e d u r e , f r o m 50 t o d u e t o m i n o r d i s t u r b a n c e s a l o n e . I t ma y t h e r e -
2 9 . 5° . T h e t h r e e t y p e s o f t r i a x i a l c o m p r e s s i o n fo r e be s t at ed t hat di s t ur ba nc e has a t endenc y
a n d s h e a r t e s t s w h i c h we r e p e r f o r m e d t o o b t a i n t o l o we r t h e u n c o n f i n e d c o m p r e s s i v e s t r e n g t h
t h i s r a n g e we r e :- t h e s l o w, c o n s o l i d a t e d - q u i c k o f mos t c o h e s i v e s o i l s . Fo r t h i s r e a s o n t h e r e -
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t her e i s any quest ion r egar ding t he v a l idit y of
t he gen e r a l s t r e n gt h de t e r m i na t i o ns , s i n c e , by
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ANALYS E S
Fi g u r e s 5 and 6 show t he r e s u l t s of a s t a b­
i l i t y anal ys is of s o i l behind a bulkhead i n t he
Ne w x o r k a r e a . T h e s o i l p r o f i l e i s n o r m a l t o
t h e l i n e o f t h e b u l k h e a d a n d s h o ws t h e s o i l
f o r m a t i o n i m m e d i a t e l y i n b o a r d f r o m i t , wh e r e
a d r e d g e d s l o p e wa s a t t e m p t e d f o r t h e i n s t a l l a ­
t i o n o f a r o c k m o u n d . Th e s l o p e c u t e x p o s e d a
s o f t d e p o s i t o f m e a d o w ma t a n d m u d . I n s p i t e
o f t h e i mmi nence o f s l o pe f a i l u r e t h e dr e d ge d
m a t e r i a l wa s s t o c k - p i l e d , f o r b a c k f i l l , a l o n g
t h e t o p o f t h e e l o p e . Th e f a i l u r e w h i c h o c c u r r ­
e d ma y b e v i e we d a s a f u l l s c a l e s h e a r t e s t i n
w h i c h t h e m e a d o w m a t a n d m u d wa s l o a d e d i n s i t u
t o f a i l u r e , and p r e s e nt e d a n i d e a l set - up f o r
s t udying t he r e l i a b i l i t y o f sampl ing and t e s t ­
i n g met hods and t h e i r a p p l i c a b i l i t y t o a n a l yt ­ FIG. 7
i c a l sol ut ions of t h i s nat ur e.
d o w n wa r d s f r o m t he v i r g i n compr ession
Un d i s t u r b e d s a m p l e s o f t h e mu d we r e s e c u r ­
cur ve, and t he slope or t he r a t e of
e d f r o m b o r i n g s a n d t e s t p i t s . Sa m p l e r ( b ) o f
decr ease i n voi d r a t i o wi t h i n c r e a s ­
F i g u r e 1 wa s u s e d i n t h e b o r i n g o p e r a t i o n s . T h e
ing st r ess, is less.
r e s u l t s o f u nc o nfi ne d compr ess ion t e s t s on
s a m p l e s f r o m e a c h g r o u p , s h o w n i n F i g u r e 5 »a r e Se v e r a l met hods f o r d e t e r m i n i n g t h e pr e-
i n cl os e agr eement , and i n di c a t e a s h ea r i ng c o n s o l i d a t i o n l o a d h a v e b e e n d e v i s e d . Th e w i d ­
s t r e n g t h o f 1 2 5 t o 150 / s q . f t . T h e r e q u i r e d e l y u t i l i z e d me t h o d d e v e l o p e d b y Ca s a g r a n d e 5)
st r engt h for s t a bil it y along a plane sur face de p e n ds l a r g e l y o n t he c u r v a t u r e b e t we e n t h e
w a s f o u n d t o b e 137 / s q . f t . , w h i l e t h a t n e e d ­ r e co mp r e s s i o n and v i r g i n br a n c h e s o f t he p r e s s ­
e d f o r e q u i l i b r i u m i n t h e p l a s t i c s t a t e wa s u r e - v o i d r a t i o d i a g r a m . Th e w r i t e r h a s f o u n d
135 / s q . f t . (F i g u r e 6 ) . Th e t h r e e r e s u l t s , t h a t t h e d e g r e e o f c u r v a t u r e b e t w e e n t h e s e t wo
independent ly ar r ived a t , ar e i n s uffi c i e nt l y b r a n c h e s i s mor e s e r i o u s l y a f f e c t e d b y d i s t u r b ­
c l o s e agr eement t o demons t r a t e t he r e l i a b i l i t y a n c e t h a n a r e t h e o t h e r a b o v e f a c t o r s . Te Bt
o f t h e s a mp l i n g a nd t e s t i n g met hods u t i l i z e d . r e s ul t s on s oft cohesive s o i l s i n di c a t e t hat
Be c a u s e o f t h e i r r e l i a b i l i t y a n a c c u r a t e m e a s ­ a n e xt r e me l y s ma l l d i s t u r b a n c e due t o s a m p l i n g
u r e of t he e f f e c t s o f di s t u r b a nc e on pr obl ems o r t e s t i n g ma y b e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a n a p p r e c i ­
of t h i s nat ur e can be det er mined. a b l e f l a t t e n i n g b e t w e e n t h e t wo b r a n c h e s .
Le t u s n o w c o n s i d e r t h e s a me e mb a n k me n t To d e m o n s t r a t e t h e a f f e c t s o f d i s t u r b a n c e
fr om t he s t a n d p o i n t o f s t a b i l i t y . For d e s i g n on s et t l ement e s t i m a t e s , pr es s ur e - vo id r a t i o
against fa i l u r e i n t he pl a s t ic st at e of safet y diagr ams fr om c o n s o l i da t i o n t e s t s of u n di s t u r b­
o f 1 . J 8 . Un c o n f i n e d c o m p r e s s i o n t e s t s o n p a r ­ e d a n d r e m o l d e d s p e c i m e n s f r o m t h e s a me c l a y
t i a l l y d i s t u r b e d s p e c i m e n s o f t h e m u d , h o we v e r , s s n p l e a r e s h o wn m F i g u r e 7 . Th e c u r v a t u r e
y i e l d e d s t r e n g t h s w h i c h w e r e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 50 b e t we e n t h e r e c o m p r e s s i o n a n d v i r g i n b r a n c h e s
per cent of t hose for t he undist ur bed s t at e. f o r t he u n d i s t u r b e d s peci men i s s h a r p , r e a d i l y
Ha d t h e y b e e n t h e o n l y s o u r c e o f i n f o r m a t i o n , per mit t ing t he est imat ed pr ec ons ol idat ion de­
t h e L / d r e q u i r e m e n t o f t h e s l o p e wo u l d h a v e t e r m i n a t i o n o f 2.65 t o n s / s q . f t . , b u t t h e r e ­
b e e n t wi c e t h a t o f t h e s a f e s l o p e , s i n c e m o l d e d s p e c i m e n s h o ws n o a p p r e c i a t l e b r e a k ,
C - p d /L (F i g u r e 6 ) . and i n t h i s i n s t a n c e t he i n i t i a l vo i d- r a t i o i s
Si m i l a r l y , t he be a r ing c a pa cit y of t he . t he only guide fo r est imat ing t he pr econs ol id­
mud, b a s e d o n d i s t u r b e d t e s t s , wo u l d h a v e b e e n a t i o n l oa d (1 .0 t o n s /s q .f t .). I f t he p r es e nt
50 p e r c e n t o f t h a t i n d i c a t e d b y t h e u n d i s t u r b - - o v e r b u r d e n we r e t a k e n a s 1 . 1 4 t o n s p e r s q . f t . ,
ed t e s t s . a n d t h e a v e r a g e l o a d i n c r e a s e a s 1 .5 8 t o n s / s q .
f t ., t he r e s u l t i n g v o i d change on t he b a s i s of
DI S T UR BANCE AND I T S E F F E CT ON C ONS OLI DAT I ON t h e r e m o l d e d s p e c i me n wo u l d b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y
DATA 0 . 2 6 . Ho w e v e r , b e c a u s e o f t h e k n o w l e d g e o b t a i n ­
ed fr om t he u n d i s t u r b e d s pec i men r e g a r d i n g pr e-
Th e r e s u l t s o f c o n s o l i d a t i o n t e s t s a r e c o n s o l i d a t i o n , t h e t r u e v o i d c h a n g e wo u l d o n l y
p r e s e n t e d i n t h e f o r m o f "p r e s s u r e - v o i d r a t i o b e 0 . 0 3 0 . Th e s e t t l e m e n t , o n t h e b a s i s o f t h e
d i a g r a m s " wh i c h p e r m i t t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n of r e m o l d e d s p e c i m e n , w o u l d t h e r e f o r e b e 8.5 t i m e s
v o l u m e d e c r e a s e , a n d "t i m e - c o m p r e s s i o n c u r v e s " t hat det er mined fr om t he undi s t ur b e d s pecimen,
wh i c h d e m o n s t r a t e t h e r a t e a t wh i c h t h e d e ­ demons t r at ing r a t h e r f o r c e f u l l y t he e f f e c t of
c r e a s e o c c u r s . Th e p r e s s u r e - v o i d r a t i o d i a g r a m dist ur bance in t hese cons ider at ions .
ma y a l s o b e u t i l i z e d t o d e t e r m i n e t h e ma xi mu m
pr es sur e on t he s o i l i n i t s pr evious h i s t o r y . CONCLUS I ONS
Aa d e m o n s t r a t e d b y R u t l e d g e 4 ) d i s t u r b ­
ance e f f e c t s t he pr es s ur e- void r a t i o diagr ams 1 ) Th e p u r p o s e o f u n d i s t u r b e d s a m p l i n g a n d l a ­
i n t h e f o l l o w i n g wa y s :- bor at or y t es t ing of s o i l s i s t o obt ain dat a
o n t h e p h y s i c a l p r o p e r t i e s o f t h e s o i l s wh i c h
1. It obscur es t he pr evious st r ess his­ a ppr oxi mat e t h o s e i n s i t u .
t or y of t he s o i l . 2) It i s i mpo s s i bl e t o ge t t r u l y u n d i s t u r b e d
2. It decr eases t he void Ta t i o a t wh i c h s peci mens o f s o i l , b e c a u s e of t h e change i n
t he s o i l wi l l car r y any v e r t ical s t r e s s a s a r e s u l t of t h e i r r emoval fr om t he
st ress. g r o u n d . Th e e f f e c t o f t h e c h a n g e , h o w e v e r , m a y
3. Th e s t r a i g h t - l i n e p o r t i o n o f t he dis ­ be eval uat ed.
t ur be d compr ess ion cur ve i s displaced 3 ) Th e t e c h n i q u e s a n d e q u i p m e n t u t i l i z e d i n
 68
RE F ERENCE S
sampl ing and t e s t i n g have an impor t ant bear ­
i ng on t he degr ee of dis t ur ba nc e as s o c ia t ed 1) S a m p l i n g a n d S a m p l i n g De v i c e s a n d E q u i p m e n t ,
wi t h t h e s e o p e r a t i o n s . B u l l e t i n 75- A, S p r a q u e a n d He n w o o d , I n c .
4 ) Wh e r e t e s t p i t s c a n n o t b e u t i l i z e d f o r s e ­ 2 ) Th e P r e s e n t S t a t u s o f t h e Ar t o f Ob t a i n i n g
c u r i n g u n d i s t u r b e d s a m p l e s , t h i n wa l l e d U n d i s t u r b e d S a m p l e s o f S o i l s b y t h e Co m m i t ­
s ampl ing spoons of t he open or p i s t o n t ype ar e t e e o n Sa m p l i n g a n d T e s t i n g , M . J . Hv o r s l e v ,
t he b e s t equipment p r e s e n t l y a v a i l a b l e f o r t h i s A . S . C . E . , Ma r c h 1 9 4 0 .
purpose. 3 ) S t a b i l i t y o f E a r t h a n d F o u n d a t i o n Wo r k s , L e o
5 ) Vi s u a l e v i d e n c e o f s o i l d i s t u r b a n c e ma y b e Jur gens on, Pr o ceedings of t he In t e r n a t i o n a l
de mons t r at ed by c u t t i n g t h i n s e c t i o n s fr om C o n f e r e n c e o n S o i l Me c h a n i c s , 1 9 3 6 .
t he s a mp l es a n d a l l o wi n g t hem t o dr y u n d e r a t ­ 4 ) R e l a t i o n o f Un d i s t u r b e d Sa m p l i n g t o La b o r a ­
mospher ic c o n d i t i o n s . t o r y Te s t i n g , b y P .C . Ru t l e d g e , Pr o c e e d i n g s ,
6) i s n a i l d i s t u r b a n c e d u e t o s a m p l i n g a n d A . S . C . E . , No v e m b e r 1 9 4 2 .
t e s t i n g o p e r a t i o n s ma y h a v e a n a p p r e c i a b l e 5 ) T h e De t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e P r e - c o n s o l i d a t i o n
e f f e c t on t he r e l i a b i l i t y o f t he l abor at o r y L o a d «nf l i t s P r a c t i c a l S i g n i f i c a n c e , D r .
t est r esult s. Ar t h u r C a s a g r a n d e , P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e I n t e r ­
7 ) Th e a p p l i c a b i l i t y o f a n a l y t i c a l s o l u t i o n s n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e o f S o i l Me c h a n i c s , 1 9 3 6 .
t o f o u n d a t i o n pr obl ems de p en ds , t o a l a r ge 6 ) D i s c u s s i o n o n U n d i s t u r b e d S o i X S a m p l i n g Re -
u i r e m e n t s , b y J a m e s D. P a r s o n s , Co r e Ba r r e l
degr ee, on t he r e l i a b i l i t y of t he l abor at or y
t es t r e s ul t s used t her ein.
§
y m p o s i u m , A . I . M . E . An n u a l M e e t i n g , Ma r c h 1 9 t
1947.

- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0-

S U B - S E C T I O N lit c
MEASUREMENTS OP P RE S S URE S AND DEF ORMATI ONS

^ I NS TRUMENTATI ON F OR F I E L D MEASUREMENTS OF DE F LE CT I ONS AND P RE S S URE S F OR

AI RP ORT P A V E M E N T S

J OHN M. GR I F F I T H
E n g i n e e r , F l e x i b l e P a v e m e n t B r a n c h , S o i l s D i v i s i o n , Wa t e r w a y s E x p e r i m e n t S t a t i o n ,
M i s s i s s i p p i R i v e r C o m m i s s i o n , Co r p s o f E n g i n e e r s , De p a r t m e n t o f t h e Ar m y , V i c k s b u r g , Mi s s .
E .H. WOODMAN
E n g i n e e r , C h i e f o f I n s t r u m e n t a t i o n B r a n c h , Wa t e r w a y s E x p e r i m e n t S t a t i o n ,
M i s s i s s i p p i R i v e r C o m m i s s i o n , Co r p s o f E n g i n e e r s , De p a r t m e n t o f t h e Ar m y , Vi c k s b u r g , Mi s s .

S YNOP S I S
Th i s p a p e r d e s c r i b e s o p e r a t i o n a nd i n s t a l l a t i o n o f one t y p e o f e a r t h p r e s s u r e
c e l l a n d t wo t y p e s o f d e f l e c t i o n g a g e s u s e d b y t h e Wa t e r w a y s E x p e r i m e n t S t a t i o n i n
me a s ur i ng s t r e s s e s a n d s t r a i n s i n f l e x i b l e pavement s t r u c t u r e s u n de r s t a n d i n g and
m o v i n g w h e e l l o a d s a n d u n d e r p l a t e - b e a r i n g l o a d s . Al s o c o n t a i n e d i n t h i s p a p e r i s
a br ief descr ipt ion of inst al l at ions in t hr ee t est sect ions u t i l i zi n g t hese pr ess­
ur e c e l l s and d e f l e c t i o n ga ge s .

T h e F l e x i b l e P a v e m e n t B r a n c h o f t h e Wa t e r ­ S t a t i o n , w h i l e i n t h e S t o c k t o n No . 2 T e s t S e c ­
w a y s E x p e r i m e n t S t a t i o n wa s e s t a b l i s h e d b y t h e t i o n p r e s s u r e c e l l s o n l y we r e b y t h e E x p e r i ­
Co r p s o f E n g i n e e r s d u r i n g t h e e a r l y p a r t o f me nt S t a t i o n .
Wo r l d Wa r I I t o c o n d u c t r e s e a r c h o n t h e d e s i g n I n a l l t hr ee of t he above t e s t s e c t i o n s ,
of f l e x i b l e t ype pavement . A par t of t he r e ­ o n l y o n e t y p e o f p r e s s u r e c e l l wa s i n s t a l l e d ,
s e a r c h c o n d u c t e d b y t h i s Br a n c h h a s i n v o l v e d a n d t h i s i s r e f e r r e d t o h e r e i n a f t e r a s t h e WES
t h e meas ur ement and s t udy o f s t r e s s e s and c e l l . T h e WES c e l l i s u s e d f o r m e a s u r i n g s u b ­
s t r a i n s i n du c e d i n b a s e s and s u bgr a de s be n e a t h s u r fa c e p r e s s u r e s un de r s t a n di n g or moving
f l e x i b l e p a ve me n t s . Th i s p a p e r i s c o n f i n e d t o l o a d s . I n t h e t wo t e s t s e c t i o n s c o n d u c t e d b y
t he mechanics and i n s t a l l a t i o n of pr es s ur e t h e E x p e r i m e n t S t a t i o n , t wo b a s i c a l l y d i f f e r ­
c e l l s and d e f l e c t i o n gages devel oped by t he ent t ypes of d e fl e c t i o n gages have be e n u s e d,
I n s t r u m e n t a t i o n Br a n c h o f t h e Ex p e r i m e n t St a ­ one c a l l e d t he c a n t i l e v e r t ype gage and t he
t i o n as used i n t hr ee exper iment al t e s t sec­ o t h e r t h e s e l s y n m o t o r g a g e . Th e s e l s y n g a g e
t i o n s : F l e x i b l e P a v e m e n t T e s t s , M a r i e t t a , Ge ­ i s at p r e s e n t a da p t e d t o meas ur ement o f s u r ­
o r g i a « S t r e s s D i s t r i b u t i o n T e s t S e c t i o n , Wa t e r ­ face or subsur face de fl e c t io ns under st anding
wa y s Ex p e r i m e n t S t a t i o n ; a n d S t o c k t o n No . 2 l o a d s o n l y , wh i l e t h e c a n t i l e v e r ga ge i s c a ­
T 6 s t S e c t i o n . I n t h e s e f i r s t t wo t e s t s e c t i o n s pabl e of measur ing t hese de fl e c t i o n s under
a l l p r e s s u r e c e l l s a n d d e f l e c t i o n g a g e s we r e bot h s t a n di n g and moving l o a d s .
d e s i g n e d a n d c o n s t r u c t e d b y t h e Exp e r i m e n t T h e WES c e l l h a s b e e n m a d e i n s e v e r a l