CPTU Derived Soil Engineering Basic Soil Behavior - CLAY

Parameters for CLAY 1-D Consolidation

Key Aspects:
1. Key Aspects of Clay Soil Behavior 1. Compressibility (RR and CR)
2. Yield stress (σ'p)
3. Coefficient of consolidation (cv)
2. Important engineering design parameters 4. Hydraulic conductivity (kv)
5. Horizontal stress (σ'h0 or K0)

3. Background and application of CPTU

Most Important Parameter:
correlations for estimation of design parameters Yield stress = σ'vy ≡ σ'p ≡ p'c
Also known as:
- Preconsolidation stress
4. Applied to Case Studies in follow-on lecture. - Maximum past pressure

1/50 2/50

Basic Soil Behavior - CLAY General Aspects of CPTU Testing in Clay

Undrained Shear Strength
1. Penetration is generally undrained and therefore
Key Aspects: excess pore pressures will be generated.
1. Shear induced pore
pressures 2. Cone resistance and sleeve friction (if relevant)
2. Effect of OCR
3. Anisotropy should be corrected using the measured pore
4. Rate effects pressures.
Most Important Parameter:
Undrained shear strength = su 3. The measured pore pressures can also be used
directly for interpretation in terms of soil design
parameters.

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Interpretation of CPTU data in clay In Situ State Parameters

1. State Parameters = In situ state of stress
1. Soil Unit weight: γw for computation of in
and stress history
situ vertical effective stress (σ'v0)
2. Strength parameters
2. Stress history
σ'p and OCR = σ'p/σ'v0
3. Deformation characteristics
3. In situ horizontal effective stress
4. Flow and consolidation characteristics
σ'h0 = K0σ'v0
5. In situ pore pressure
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1
 Estimation of Soil Unit Weight Estimation of Soil Unit Weight
Approximate
Zone Unit Weight
(kN/m3 )
1 17.5
2 12.5
3 17.5
4 18.0
5 18.0
6 18.0
Iterative procedure
7 18.5
8 19.0
9 19.5
[Robertson et al. 1986] 10 20.0
11 20.5
Note: 1 kN/m3 ≈ 6.36 pcf 12 19.0
[Larsson and Mulabdic 1991] 7/50 8/50

Stress History: OCR = σ'p/σ'v0 CPTU Stress History Correlations

Estimation of Stress History (OCR or σ'p) can Wroth (1984), Mayne(1991) and others proposed
be based on: theoretical basis (cavity expansion; critical state soil
mechanics) for the following potential correlations
between CPTU data and σ'p or OCR:
• Direct correlation with CPTU data
Most Common:
σ'p = = f(Δu1 or Δu2 )
• Pore pressure differential via dual element σ'p = f(qt - σv0 ) σ'p = k(qt – σv0 )
piezocone σ'p = f(qt - u2 )
or
• Indirect correlation via undrained shear OCR = f(B q= Δu2 /(qt - σvo ))
OCR = f(Qt = (qt - σvo)/ σ'v0)) OCR = k[(qt – σv0)/σ'v0]
strength
OCR = f((qt - u2 )/ σ'v0)
9/50 10/50

CPTU Stress History Correlations CPTU Stress History Correlations

34 16
Legend:
30

26
14
Troll Comprehensive study initially by Chen and
Brage
(qt - σvo) / σ'vo

12

Mayne (1996) with later updates (e.g.,

Δu1 /σ'vo

22 Haltenbanken
10
18 Haga
14
8 Rio
Vancouver Mayne 2005):
10
6 X Cowden
Brent Cross
6 4
Onsøy
2
1 5 10 20
2
1 5 10 20
Emmerstad
Drammen lean clay σ'p = 0.47(Δu1 ) = 0.53(Δu2)
Drammen plastic clay
1.4 16

1.2 14
σ'p = 0.33(qt - σv0) Most common
Bq =(u2-uo)/ (qt-σvo)

F*t =ft / (qt - σvo)

1.0 12
X

0.8 10

0.6 8
X
X
X σ'p = 0.60(qt - u2 )
0.4 6
X
X
0.2 4
Note: values listed above are from best fit regressions; there is a sizable
0
1 5 10 20
2
1 5 10 20 [Lunne, et al. 1989]
range in all values, e.g., k ranges from 0.2 to 0.5 for σ'p = k(qt – σv0)
Overconsolidation ratio, OCR 11/50 12/50

2
 Stress (kPa)

2
0 200 400 600 800 Example - CPTU CPTU Stress History Correlations
Fill
Stress History
4 Correlation Data from NGI Block Sample Database
(Karlsrud et al. 2005)
σ'v0

6
Boston Blue Clay Site –
σ'p (CPTU) = 0.3(qnet) Newbury, MA.
- Laboratory tests conducted on high quality
Depth (m)

8
σ'p values obtained from undisturbed block samples (e.g., Sherbrooke
σ'p Block Samples
Constant Rate of Strain Block Sampler) → sample quality can have a
10 (CRS) Consolidation tests significant influence on σ'p
conducted on high quality
12 Boston Blue Clay Sherbrooke Block samples - Soft to medium stiff clays
su(CAUC) = 15 – 150 kPa; OCR = 1.2 – 6.3;
14
Ip = 10 – 50 %; St = 3 - 200
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Importance of Sample 0 CPTU Stress History Correlations

Quality – Boston Blue Clay 1.2
St > 15
5
Used 4 sampling methods 1.15 - 0.67 log OCR
NGI Block Sample
1.0
σ'v0
Vertical Strain εv (%)

1. Poor: SPT sampler

Database
10
0.8
2. Fair: Standard 76 mm thin walled OCR = f(Bq)
tube sampler (with free or fixed 15 CRS Tests
Bq

piston) 0.6
Depth = 7.4 m

Free Piston regular tube

20
3. Good: Fixed piston sampler in Fixed Piston - special tube
0.4
76 mm SPT sampler
mudded borehole using modified Sherbrooke Block
St <= 15
76 mm diameter thin walled tube 0.88 - 0.51 log OCR
25
10 100 1000
0.2 St <= 15
4. Best: Sherbrooke Block Sampler Vertical Effective Stress, σ'v (kPa)
St > 15
0.0 [Karlsrud et al. 2005]
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
OCR
15/50 16/50

CPTU Stress History Correlations CPTU Stress History Correlations

10.0 20
St <= 15 St > 15:
St > 15 2.5 + 6 log OCR St <= 15
8.0 16
St <= 15: OCR = (Qt/3)1.2 St > 15

12
(u 2-u0 )/σ'v0

6.0 NGI Block Sample

Qt

NGI Block Sample Database

4.0
Database 8
OCR = f(Qt)
OCR = f(Δu2/σ'v0) 4
St <= 15:
2.0
2.4 + 8 log OCR St > 15: OCR = (Qt/2)1.11
0
0.0 [Karlsrud et al. 2005] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 910
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
OCR 17/50
OCR [Karlsrud et al. 2005]
18/50

3
 CPTU Stress History Correlations K0 – OCR Relationship for Clays
10
a)
9 For simple case of
Overconsolidation ratio, OCR

From pore pressure loading followed by

8
data using dual element unloading, K0 increases
uo
7
piezocone with increasing OCR
u2
6 u1 such that:
5 PPD = (u1 – u2)/u0
K0,OC = K0,NC(OCR)n
4 OCR= 0.66 + 1.43 (PPD)
3
Robertson et al. (1986)
Levadoux and Baligh (1980)
2
Roy et al. (1982)

1 Sully (1986)

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Pore pressure difference, PPD= (u1-u2)/uo [Sully et al.,1988] 19/50 20/50

In Situ Horizontal Effective Stress K0-OCR-PI Relationship

There are currently no reliable methods for Need values for
determining the in situ horizontal effective Plasticity Index (PI)
stress, σ'h0 = K0(σ'v0) from CPTU data and OCR.

Determine OCR from

For approximate (preliminary) estimates 1) CPTU correlations
consider correlations based on: or via 2) undrained
shear strength
• OCR via CPTU correlations for OCR or su correlation (next slide)
• Measured pore pressure difference

[Brooker and Ireland 1965]

21/50 22/50

NGI Relationship among OCR-su/σ'v0-K0-PI Estimate K0 from Dual Element Piezocone

From Basic Soil Difference between u1
Behavior and u2 increases with
increasing OCR → K0
su/σ'v0 = S(OCR)m
also increases with
K0,OC = K0,NC(OCR) n increasing OCR, hence
positive correlation
between (u1 – u2)/σ'v0
and K0.

23/50 [Sully and Campanella 1991] 24/50

4
 Shear Strength of Clays Notes Regarding Undrained Shear Strength
1. The undrained shear strength is not unique.
For most design problems in clays (especially
loading) the critical failure condition is 2. The in situ undrained shear strength depends on many factors
with the most important being: mode of shear failure, soil
undrained. anisotropy, strain rate and stress history.

3. Therefore su required for analysis depends on the design

1. Undrained Shear strength su (= cu) problem.

4. Measured CPTU data are also influenced by such factors as

2. Remolded undrained shear strength (sur) or anisotropy and rate effects.
Sensitivity, St = su/sur
5. The CPTU cannot directly measure su and therefore CPTU
interpretation of su relies on a combination of theory and
empirical correlations
Note: 1kPa = 20.9 psf
25/50 26/50

Theoretical Interpretation CPTU in Clay Undrained Shear Strength Anisotropy

σ 1f (δ = 0°)
1. Existing theories for interpretation of s u from CPTU data 0.40
involve several simplifications and assumptions. Therefore
existing theories must be "calibrated" against measured data 0.35 TC
TC

2. Most important to use realistic and reliable soil data from 0.30
DSS
high quality tests conducted on high quality samples
su/σ'vc

0.25 σ 1f (δ = 45 ± 15°)
TE

3. At NGI – key reference is to use s u from Anisotropically 0.20

consolidated triaxial compression (CAUC) tests conducted on Triaxial Compression (TC): qf DSS
high quality undisturbed samples. A secondary reference is to 0.15 Direct Simple Shear (DSS): τh
Triaxial Extension (TE): qf
use the average su(ave) [or mobilized for stability problems] =
0.10
1/3[su(CAUC) = su(DSS) + s u(CAUE)] 0 20 40 60 80 100
σ 1f TE
Plasticity Index PI (%) (δ = 90°)
27/50 [Ladd 1991, Ladd and DeGroot 2003] 28/50

Undrained Shear Strength from CPTU Data Undrained Shear Strength from CPTU Data
Theories for interpretation: The empirical approaches available for interpretation
1. Bearing capacity of su from CPT/CPTU data can be grouped under 3
2. Cavity expansion main categories:
3. Strain path methods
1. su estimation using "total" cone resistance
All result in a relationship of the form:
qt = Ncsu + σ0, where σ0 could = σv0, σh0 , σm0
2. su estimation using "effective" cone resistance
In practice most common to use:
qt = N ktsu + σv0, for which theoretically Nkt = 9 to 18. 3. su estimation using excess pore pressure

29/50 30/50

5
 Undrained Shear Strength from CPTU Data CPTU su Cone
Factors
su = qnet/Nkt = (qt – σv0)/Nkt Most Common

su(Lab) = s u(ave) =
su = Δu/NΔu = (u2 – u0)/NΔu Often used
1/3[su(CAUC) + su(DSS) + s u(CAUE)]

su = qe/Nke = (qt – u2)/Nke Seldom used

su(CAUC)

Need empirical correlation factors Nkt, NΔu, or N ke factors as Note: Nkt for s u(CAUC) < Nkt for s u(ave)
correlated to a specific measure of undrained shear
strength, e.g., s u(CAUC) or su(ave)
31/50
[Aas et al.1986] 32/50

CPTU su Cone Factors – Karlsrud et al. (2005) CPTU su Cone Factors – Karlsrud et al. (2005)
Update of CPTU su cone factors using NGI high quality block 16
sample database. Derived cone factors as function: OCR, 14 su = (qt – σv0)/Nkt
Sensitivity (St) and Plasticity Index (Ip)
40
12
14 m
Block and tube samples 10
30
of Onsøy, Norway clay
Nkt
Shear Stress (kPa)

PI = 30 to 40 8
20
6
10 Block 4 St <= 15
76 mm Tube
54 mm Tube CAUC Recompression tests
2 St > 15
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Axial Strain (%) p' (kPa) 0 [Karlsrud et al. 2005]
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 910
33/50 OCR 34/50

CPTU su Cone Factors – Karlsrud et al. (2005) CPTU su Cone Factors – Karlsrud et al. (2005)
10 10
OCR 1-2
su = (u2 – u0)/NΔu
OCR 2-4
8 8
OCR > 4; St <= 15
( )
( )
6 6 OCR 1-2 St<=15
NΔ u
N Δu

OCR 1-2 St>15

4 OCR 2-4 St<=15
4
OCR 2-4 St>15
2 OCR > 4 St<=15
2 St <= 15
OCR>4 S t>15
St > 15 0
0 0 10 20 30 40 50
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 910 [Karlsrud et al. 2005] Ip (%) [Karlsrud et al. 2005]
OCR 35/50 36/50

6
CPTU su Cone Factors – Karlsrud et al. (2005) CPTU su Cone Factors – Karlsrud et al. (2005)
10 Best fit regression lines to plotted data for s u(CAUC)
su = (qt – u2)/Nke
8 Cone Sensitivity Regression Equation Standard
Factor St Deviation
≤15 7.8 + 2.5logOCR + 0.082Ip
6 Nkt 0.197
Nke

> 15 8.5 + 2.5logOCR

≤ 15 6.9 – 4.0logOCR + 0.07Ip
4 NΔu 0.128
> 15 9.8 – 4.5logOCR
St <= 15 ≤ 15 11.5 – 9.05Bq
2
Nke 0.172
St > 15 > 15 12.5 – 11.0Bq

0 Best relationship (statistically) = NΔu. Note: NΔ u correlation uses direct

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 [Karlsrud et al. 2005] measurement (u2) and does not require use of qt which must be
Bq 37/50
corrected for overburden stress in other correlations.
38/50

Updated NGI NΔu, CAUC Cone Factor for St ≤ 15 su from CPTU via CPTU-σ'p correlations
14 Plotted for Range For a given element of soil, the preconsolidation stress σ'p is
OCR = 1 to 10 and essentially unique whereas su which is strongly dependent on method
12
Ip = 10 to 80 of measurement and is therefore not unique.
10
Alternative procedure to estimate su is first determine σ'p (and hence
OCR) from the CPTU data, then use established laboratory (e.g.,
N Δu

8
High = 12.5 CAUC, DSS) or in situ (e.g., FVT) relationships between su and σ'p (or
6 4
6
@ OCR = 1 and Ip = 80 OCR) for a particular mode of su shear.
8
10
4 10 Low = 3.6 Examples:
12
14 8
6 @ OCR = 10 and Ip = 10
2
4 CR SHANSEP Equation (Ladd 1991)
70 60 O
50 40 30 2 su/σ'v0 = S(OCR)m, with S = su/σ'v0 at OCR = 1
20
Plastici
ty Index
10 e.g., su(DSS)/σ'v0 = 0.23(OCR)0.8
(Ip)
[Karlsrud et al. 2005]
su(mob) = 0.22σ'p Mesri (1975)
39/50 40/50

Remoulded Undrained Shear Strength sur Remoulded Undrained Shear Strength sur
Re mo ul de d stren gth in R2, kP a
Comparison between UUC 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Comparison of laboratory
80
triaxial test data on measurements of remolded
remolded samples with 82
undrained shear strength with
CPTU friction sleeve data 84
sleeve friction from CPTU tests
for Offshore California site for Ormen Lange area offshore
Depth b elow seabed , m

86

88 Norway.
90

92

94

96
UU(rem )
F C(rem)
98
CPTs in R2 19_2 & 20
[Quiros and Young 1988] " Intact" rings hear residual
100 [Kvalstad et al. 2004]
41/50 42/50

7
 Undrained Shear Strength Sensitivity, St
Relationship between
Sensitivity and CPTU Rf
for two sites in Norway
[Rad and Lunne 1986]
43/50
Example of Direct Correlation between CPTU and Gmax
Mayne and Rix (1993)
Estimation of small
strain shear modulus
Gmax for clays from CPT
qc data + estimate e.
Note: Gmax is anisotropic +
in the context of CPT/CPTU
testing, better to measure
directly down hole with
seismic cone (= Gvh)
45/50
CPTU Normalized Dissipation Curves
xxx Bothkennar, UK (= soft clay)
Dissipation Tests at 15 m
depth
U50 Typically plot:
U = Δu/Δu i as function t
which for the u2 position =
(u2 – u0)/(ui – u0)
where
u0 = in situ pore pressure
before penetration, and
t50 ui = u2 at t = 0
47/50
Deformation Parameters
1. Constrained Modulus – for 1-D compression, M
2. Undrained Young's Modulus, E u
3. Small strain shear modulus, Gmax
Two approaches for use of CPT/CPTU data to estimate
deformation parameters:
1. Indirect methods that require an estimate of another
parameter such as undrained shear strength su.
2. Direct methods that relate cone resistance directly to
modulus.
44/50
Consolidation and Hydraulic Conductivity
Measurement: dissipation of penetration pore pressures
during pause in penetration. Can be u1 or u2. Ideally
measure until Δu = 0 but time depends on ch and kh.
Derived Soil Properties:
1. Coefficient of Consolidation, c h
2. Hydraulic Conductivity (= permeability), k h
Since the dissipation is radial, c h and kh are derived.
Some clays can have highly anisotropic consolidation
and flow parameters (e.g., varved clays) – need to use
published anisotropy ratios to estimate kv and cv. 46/50
Theory for CPTU derived ch and kh
ch Terzaghi Theory: cv = (TH2)/t
Torstensson (1975, 1977) suggested use time at 50%
dissipation and for CPTU geometry thus,
ch = (T50/t50 )r2
Hence for 10 cm2 cone, ch = 0.00153/t50 [m2/s]
kh Terzaghi Theory: kh = chγ wmh
Determine ch from dissipation test + need estimate mh
= coefficient of volume change, which can be
correlated to qc or qt
48/50
8
 Coefficient of Example ch – Boston
Consolidation Blue Clay (Newbury, MA)
Houlsby and Teh (1988, 1991):
Strain Path Theory and Finite
Element Analysis 10 cm2, u2 Piezocone

For u1 or u2 and 10 cm2 or 15 cm2 t50 = 1750 s, a = 1.78 cm

cones. Uses t50 + requires Rigidity
Index, Ir = G/su [Ir tends to decrease T *50 = 0.245, Ir ≈ 100
with increasing OCR and Ip]
ch = 0.0044 cm2/s
ch = (T *50)r2(Ir)1/2/t50
T*50 = 0.118 for u1 Note: if u0 unknown and cannot
= 0.245 for u2 assume hydrostatic then must run
full dissipation → can be very time
consuming.
49/50 50/50

Recommendations - CPTU Derived Soil

Engineering Parameters for CLAY
1. Do not eliminate sampling and laboratory testing
2. Verify reliability of results and that undrained conditions prevail
3. With increasing experience modify correlations for local conditions

Good CPTU Interpretation methods exist for:

• Soil Unit Weight (γw)
• Stress History: OCR or σ'p
• Undrained Shear Strength for su(CAUC) and su(ave)
• Small strain shear modulus (Gmax)
• Coefficient of Consolidation (c h)

Approximate estimates can be made from CPTU data for:

1. In Situ horizontal effective stress (σ'h0 or K0)
2. Remolded undrained shear strength (sur) or Sensitivity (St)
3. Hydraulic Conductivity (k h)

51/50