e-log σv′ relationship for marine clays considering initial water content to evaluate soil structure

Using the data of conventional consolidation tests, the linear ln v-ln sigma(v)' relation (v = 1 + e is a specific volume) was determined in the region of large effective stresses, and was named as high water content compression line (HWCL). A unique relation between normalized ln v ln sigma(v)' was obtained for twenty-one clays with narrow band. Based on the normalized HWCL, e-log sigma(v)' relation of normally consolidated clay with a specified initial water content was proposed. In this model, the beginning part shows a linear e-log sigma(v)' relation in the range of sigma(v)' =sigma(HWCL)', e-log sigma(v)' relation is on the HWCL, where sigma(HWCL)' is the converging pressure to HWCL. It was shown that the empirical C-c-w(L) relations could be explained using the HWCL based model with the consideration of initial water contents. By using the proposed model, the change of compression properties of marine clay due to soil structure formed in the deposition process was shown schematically, and the effects of soil structure of in situ marine deposits were evaluated, considering the effect of initial water content.