Geotechnics of High Water Content Materials


Book Description

Reasonable estimates indicate that approximately a billion cubic meters of high water content soil-like wastes are produced annually worldwide, and a large portion of these are deposited hydraulically in diked impoundment areas, some of which are among the largest earth structures in the world. The major problems emanating from this disposal method are the difficulty in dewatering the wastes, their low strength and hydraulic conductivity, their high compressibility, their potential to contaminate the groundwater, the stability of the confining dikes, and the ultimate reclamation of the disturbed land. Following a brief explanation of how many of these wastes are generated, quantitative values for key engineering properties are summarized and compared for a wide variety of waste materials and some reference soils. Then, many concepts that have been applied with success will be presented together with the advantages each offers, the difficulties involved in using it, and the limitations in our knowledge. Discussed briefly will be state-of-practice developments in mathematical modeling, laboratory testing and associated interpretations, and material property formulations.




Geotechnics of Organic Soils and Peat


Book Description

Peat and organic soils commonly occur as extremely soft, wet, unconsolidated surficial deposits that are an integral part of wetland systems. These types of soils can give rise to geotechnical problems in the area of sampling, settlement, stability, in situ testing, stabilisation and construction. There is therefore a tendency to either avoid building on these soils, or, when this is not possible, to simply remove or replace soils, which in some instances can lead to possibly uneconomical design and construction alternatives. However, in many countries of the world, these soils cover a substantial land area and pressure on land use is resulting in ever more frequent utilisation of such marginal grounds. For the successful design, construction and performance of structures on such marginal soils, it is crucial to predict geotechnical behaviour in terms of settlement, shear strength and stability, with respect to time. This means expanding our knowledge base and calls for a reliable characterisation of their geotechnical properties and mechanical behaviour and subsequently, the devising of suitable design parameters and construction techniques for dealing with these materials. A sound scientific understanding of the nature and functions of peat and organic soils is critical to their correct and safe use, and this book contributes by offering students, researchers, engineers and academics involved with these types of soils a comprehensive overview. This book will be useful not only to those in the field of geotechnical engineering, but also to soil scientists and agriculturalists, who are involved in the development of peatlands.







Building on Soft Soils


Book Description

A comprehensive practical manual covering all aspects of this field, this book covers everything from the pre-design stage up to, and including, the actual use (including maintenance) of the completed structures. Much attention is given to the calculation methods available for design and construction, including establishing the soil parameters required, with emphasis placed on probabilistic safety analysis. This informative book includes an inventory of: · the properties of natural types of soil, secondary materials, and light-weight materials · raising and filling construction methods · techniques and methods to speed up consolidation and limit deformation Compiled by researchers from Fugro, Delft Geotechnics and several other Dutch contractors, it includes useful appendices focusing on particular points of interest from the preceding chapters.







Deformation Characteristics of Geomaterials


Book Description

In November 2015, Buenos Aires, Argentina became the location of several important events for geo-professionals, with the simultaneous holding of the 6th International Symposium on Deformation Characteristics of Geomaterials, the 15th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (XV PCSMGE), the 8th South American Congress on Rock Mechanics (SCRM), as well as the 22nd Argentinean Congress of Geotechnical Engineering (CAMSIGXXII). This synergy provided a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss current and future practices in the areas of soil mechanics and rock mechanics, and their applications in civil, energy, environmental, and mining engineering. This book presents the proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on Deformation Characteristics of Geomaterials. As well as 118 articles selected for publication after peer review, it includes 7 lectures delivered by invited keynote speakers and the Third Bishop Lecture, delivered by Professor Herve Di Benedetto of the University of Lyon, France, who presented a reference work on the advanced testing and modeling of bituminous bounded and unbounded granular materials. The conference brought together practitioners, researchers and educators from around the world engaged in the understanding of the deformation properties of geo-materials before failure, and the small strain parameters as fundamental characteristics of geo-materials. The main topics covered by the symposium include experimental investigations from very small strains to beyond failure, including multi-physical approach; HTC M coupling behavior, characterization and modeling of various geo-materials and interfaces; and practical prediction and interpretation of ground responses: field observation and case histories.