Engineering Properties of a Pelagic Clay.

Abstract

Pelagic clay is a common ocean soil type covering over 30 percent of the seafloor. Two high quality box core samples of pelagic clay were obtained and subjected to index and engineering property testing. The results of tests on both cores were similar indicating little areal variability. The shear strength near the soil-water interface was about one psi, a relatively high value, and the soil was found to be virtually incompressible up to a compressive stress of about four psi. When remolded, the strength of the soil was significantly decreased, by as much as a factor of six. The soil was also found to be very compressible beyond a stress of four psi. A technique was developed for using triaxial test results to derive shear strengths below the level of sampling. The resulting strength profile indicates a very gradual increase of strength with depth. Implications regarding the use of direct embedment anchors are discussed. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1973
Accession Number
AD0768291

Entities

People

  • H. J. Lee

Organizations

  • Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Collecting Methods
  • Coverings
  • Earth'S Characteristics
  • Engineering
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Ocean Characteristics
  • Physical Properties
  • Sampling
  • Seabed
  • Shear Strength

Readers

  • Acoustical Oceanography.
  • Geotechnical Engineering.
  • Mechanical Engineering/Mechanics of Materials.