Identifier

etd-07122007-165444

Degree

Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE)

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The piezocone penetration test (PCPT) has emerged as most widely used in situ method for obtaining soil profile as well as physical properties. The PCPT method provides three independent and nearby continuous measurements with the depth; they are: tip stress (qc), sleeve friction (fs) and pore pressure (u1, u2, or u3). These measurements have been successfully used to correlate various soil properties such as undrained shear strength, unit weight and consolidation parameters. This study presents the evaluation of the PCPT interpretation methods for their capability to reasonably estimate the consolidation parameters namely constrained modulus, overconsolidation ratio and vertical coefficient of consolidation (cv) of cohesive soils in Louisiana. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate current interpretation methods and to explore new correlations. Test data collected previously from seven sites in Louisiana were used for this. Settlement analysis and monitoring results from five different project sites were used for field verification of PCPT correlations. User friendly Visual Basic program was developed to facilitate the analyses of PCPT data and estimate of magnitude and time rate of settlement under the embankment loading.

Date

2007

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Dr. Khalid A. Alshibli

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.298

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