For more than 70 years the static plate load test has been well known in international geotechnical practice. This test assesses two important stiffness parameters of the soil: the static soil modulus Es and the subgrade reaction modulus K. Additionally, by unloading and reloading the…
Abstract Routine effective stress analyses for failure of geotechnical structures use a linear Mohr-Coulomb envelope and routine analyses for ground movements use linear elasticity with constant Young’s Modulus E’ or one-dimensional modulus M’. Observations of soil behaviour show that strength and stiffness are non-linear and…
Abstract Routine effective stress analyses for failure of geotechnical structures use a linear Mohr-Coulomb envelope and routine analyses for ground movements use linear elasticity with constant Young’s Modulus E’ or one-dimensional modulus M’. Observations of soil behaviour show that strength and stiffness are non-linear and…
The manner in which the results of oedometer tests are normally presented and used for determining stiffness parameters is examined. The basis for using a logarithmic scale for pressure is examined and shown to be of limited relevance to many soils. It is suggested that…
Ground engineers routinely use simple relationships – rules of thumb – to obtain soil parameters and to design ground works. Some of these have a sound theoretical basis and can be applied generally while some are purely empirical and so should be applied only within…