Problematic soils : proceedings of the symposium held at the Nottingham Trent University, School of Property and Construction on 8 November 2001

Problematic soils brings together in one volume a collection of papers presented at the Problematic Soils symposium, organised by East Midlands Geotechnical Group of the Institution of Civil Engineers. The papers discuss the behaviour and characteristics of problematic soils (particularly those found in the UK), and they also offer guidance on possible treatment techniques that could be applied for their successful engineering.The proceedings of this symposium are split into three sections Title page 1 Preface 3 Contents 6 Introduction 7 Expansive clays 8 Collapsible soils 14 Peat soils 24 Quicksands 30 Glacial deposits 32 Frozen soil phenomena 33 The influence of weathering and fissures on clay soils 35 Conclusions 36 Acknowledgements 38 References 38 Introduction 42 Distribution and occurrence of loess in the UK 43 Loess and brickearth 45 Formation and material characteristics 45 Properties of loess in UK 47 Strength, consolidation and permeability of loess and brickearth 49 Collapse potential 50 Case history 53 Conclusions 55 References 55 Introduction 58 Trees as a source of desiccation 59 Dealing with trees on clay sites 62 Conclusions 70 Acknowledgements 70 References 71 Introduction 72 The site and ground conditions 73 General soil properties 73 Undrained shear strength 74 Effective stress parameters 76 Compression parameters 76 Coefficient of consolidation 77 Field performance 78 Analysis of results 80 Comments and conclusions 84 Acknowledgements 86 References 86 Introduction 87 Geology 87 Case study 88 Area survey 88 Dutch research 90 Wastage in Somerset 91 Implications for the design of new foundations 92 Implications for buildings insurance 92 Conclusion 93 Acknowledgements 93 References 93 Introduction 95 Composition and lithological properties of mudrocks 96 Effects of diagenesis and burial on mudrock properties 97 Durability of mudrocks 98 Investigation of laboratory testing procedures 99 Evaluation of mudrock durability based on simple index tests 102 Detrimental effects associated with mudrocks as a result of chemical weathering of pyrite 105 Conclusions 106 References 106 Introduction 110 Development and planning framework 110 Risk management framework 111 Gas protection systems 113 Scientific advances 117 Conclusions 120 References 120 Introduction 123 Contamination 124 Reclamation strategy 124 Water modelling 125 Groundwater abstraction system and treatment plant 127 Environmental monitoring 128 Conclusion 128 Introduction 129 Shear strength and bearing capacity 130 Settlement due to increased load 132 Long term ‘creep’ settlement 134 Settlement or heave caused by changes in moisture content 136 Problems which arise as a result of the geometry of the filled void 139 Case studies 141 Conclusions 144 Acknowledgements 144 References 145 Introduction 146 PFA as a fill 146 Conclusions 150 References 150 Introduction 152 Groundwater and instability 152 Dewatering as a means of ground improvement 157 Specialist methods of groundwater control 158 Conclusions 163 References 163 Introduction 164 Vibratory stabilisation: equipment 164 Techniques 165 Method 166 How the stone columns work 167 Vibro theory 168 Design of vibratory stabilisation schemes 169 Control testing 170 Where vibratory stabilisation cannot be used 171 Design of foundations after vibratory stabilisation 171 Supervision and control of vibratory stabilisation 172 Dynamic compaction 175 Equipment 175 Working surfaces 175 Method of performance 176 How dynamic compaction works 177 Design of dynamic compaction schemes 177 Control testing 177 Sites where dynamic compaction is not suitable or its use should be considered with suspicion 178 Design of foundations after dynamic compaction 179 Supervision and control of dynamic compaction 179 Vibrations 180 Choice of ground improvement techniques 180 Closing comments on the use of ground improvement 181 References 181 Introduction 183 Preliminary investigations 184 Field trial 187 Discussion 188 Conclusions 189 Acknowledgements 190 References 190 Introduction 191 Generalities 191 Kansai International Airport 193 Transient water flow through earth dams 196 Specifications for the compaction of soils used as hydraulic barriers 201 Risk assessment and reliability-based analysis 206 Conclusions 208 References 209 "Problematic soils have been, and continue to be, a major geohazard to the built environment, with billions of pounds spent the world over preventing and remediating damage suffered as a result of their behaviour. This volume brings together a collection of papers that highlight the behaviour and characteristics of problematic soils (particularly those found in the UK), and offers guidance on possible treatment techniques that could be applied for their successful engineering. The proceedings comprises three sections. The first section deals with naturally occurring problematic soils. The second section deals with man-made/altered problematic soils, an area that is becoming increasingly important. The final section deals with the engineering treatment of problematic soils."--BOOK JACKET Content: Behaviour of silt: The engineering characteristics of loess in the UK Shrinkage and swelling of clays Behaviour of highly compressible clays and silts Settlement of subsidence: The long-term performance of foundations on peat, with reference to the Somerset levels Development of methods for identifying problem mudrocks using index tests Building on landfill - a sustainable solution for the 21st century Reclamation of contaminated land with specific reference to Pride Park, Derby Construction on fill Problematic soils or is it problematic specification? Ground Improvement by dewatering Deep compaction of problematic soils Enhanced cement stabilisation of contaminated clay soils No problematic soils, only engineering solutions