Laboratory study on geotechnical characteristics of marine coral clay

Abstract

The hydraulic reclamation coral clay is a new type of clay, formed during the sorting process of coral island reef reclamation. The foundation of the hydraulic reclamation coral reef consists of coral sand, silt, and clay. The part of the particles with particle size less than 0.075 mm contain more than 50% forms clay. As a new type of clay, the geotechnical properties were rarely reported in previous studies. In this paper, the physical and mechanical properties, microstructure and mineral composition were comprehensively researched by a series of laboratory tests. The results show that coral clay is a low liquid limit clay with high pore ratio and high saturation. From the aspect of mineral compositions, the coral clay studied consists of calcite and aragonite, while the chemical composition of it is calcium carbonate. The void ratio has a significant effect on the compressive properties of coral clay. With the increase of the void ratio, the compression coefficient a_1–2 and compression index C_c gradually increase, and the compression modulus E_s gradually decreases. The undrained stress — strain curve of coral clay shows a strain-softening behavior, and the peak strength and residual strength are positively linear correlated with confining pressure.

Keywords

coral clay / X-ray / microstructure / one-dimensional compression / triaxial compression

References

[1] LeeJ Y, KimG Y, LeeC, et al.. Characterization of deep sea sediments from the continental margin off Costa Rica [J]. Ocean Engineering, 2016, 111: 13-21

[2] LeT M H, EiksundG R, StrømP J, et al.. Geological and geotechnical characterisation for offshore wind turbine foundations: A case study of the Sheringham Shoal wind farm [J]. Engineering Geology, 2014, 177: 40-53

[3] XuY-Q, LiP-Y, LiP, et al.. Physical and mechanical properties of fine-grained soil in the Zhejiang-Fujian coastal area, China [J]. Marine Georesources & Geotechnology, 2011, 29(4): 333-345

[4] LiuS Y, ShaoG H, DuY J, et al.. Depositional and geotechnical properties of marine clays in Lianyungang, China [J]. Engineering Geology, 2011, 121(12): 66-74

[5] LeeC, YunT S, LeeJ S, et al.. Geotechnical characterization of marine sediments in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea [J]. Engineering Geology, 2011, 117(12): 151-158

[6] YanW M, MaY-F. Geotechnical characterization of Macao marine deposits [J]. Engineering Geology, 2010, 113(1–4): 62-69

[7] LongM, GudjonssonG, DonohueS, et al.. Engineering characterisation of Norwegian glaciomarine silt [J]. Engineering Geology, 2010, 110(34): 51-65

[8] DiasC R R, AlvesA M L. Geotechnical properties of the Cassino Beach mud [J]. Continental Shelf Research, 2009, 29(3): 589-596

[9] RajasekaranG, MuraliK, SrinivasaraghavanR. Microfabric, chemical and mineralogical study of Indian marine clays [J]. Ocean Engineering, 1998, 26(5): 463-483

[10] RajasekaranG, EssakuS, MathewsP K. Physico-chemical and mineralogical studies on Cochin marine clays [J]. Ocean Engineering, 1994, 21(8): 771-780

[11] BoM W, ArulrajahA, SukmakP, et al.. Mineralogy and geotechnical properties of Singapore marine clay at Changi [J]. Soils and Foundations, 2015, 55(3): 600-613

[12] LiL-L, DanH-B, WangL-Z. Undrained behavior of natural marine clay under cyclic loading [J]. Ocean Engineering, 2011, 38(16): 1792-1805

[13] LowH E, PhoonK K, TanT S, et al.. Effect of soil microstructure on the compressibility of natural Singapore marine clay [J]. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 2008, 45(2): 161-176

[14] SaeidaskariJ, AlibolandiM, AzizkandiA S. Undrained monotonic and cyclic behavior of Qeshm calcareous sand [J]. Marine Georesources & Geotechnology, 2021, 39(7): 798-811

[15] ShahnazariH, RezvaniR. Effective parameters for the particle breakage of calcareous sands: An experimental study [J]. Engineering Geology, 2013, 159: 98-105

[16] WangG, ZhaJ-J. Particle breakage evolution during cyclic triaxial shearing of a carbonate sand [J]. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 2020, 138: 106326

[17] LvY, LiX, WangY. Particle breakage of calcareous sand at high strain rates [J]. Powder Technology, 2020, 366776-787

[18] WangX-Z, WengY-L, WeiH-Z, et al.. Particle obstruction and crushing of dredged calcareous soil in the Nansha Islands, South China Sea [J]. Engineering Geology, 2019, 261: 105274

[19] LÜY, WangY, ZuoD-J. Effects of particle size on dynamic constitutive relation and energy absorption of calcareous sand [J]. Powder Technology, 2019, 35621-30

[20] XiaoY, YuanZ-X, LÜY, et al.. Fractal crushing of carbonate and quartz sands along the specimen height under impact loading [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2018, 182: 188-199

[21] GhafghaziM, ShuttleD A, DejongJ T. Particle breakage and the critical state of sand [J]. Soils and Foundations, 2014, 54(3): 451-461

[22] ShahnazariH, RezvaniR. Effective parameters for the particle breakage of calcareous sands: An experimental study [J]. Engineering Geology, 2013, 159: 98-105

[23] PengY, LiuH-L, LiC, et al.. The detailed particle breakage around the pile in coral sand [J]. Acta Geotechnica, 2021, 16(6): 1971-1981

[24] WangK-D, ChuJ, WuS-F, et al.. Stress-strain behaviour of bio-desaturated sand under undrained monotonic and cyclic loading [J]. Géotechnique, 2021, 71(6): 521-533

[25] XiaoP, LiuH-L, StuedleinA W, et al.. Effect of relative density and biocementation on cyclic response of calcareous sand [J]. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 2019, 56(12): 1849-1862

[26] MontoyaB M, DejongJ T, BoulangerR W. Dynamic response of liquefiable sand improved by microbial-induced calcite precipitation [J]. Géotechnique, 2013, 63(4): 302-312

[27] ChengL, Cord-RuwischR, ShahinM A. Cementation of sand soil by microbially induced calcite precipitation at various degrees of saturation [J]. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 2013, 50(1): 81-90

[28] LiY-B, LiB, GongJ. Revisiting the liquefaction resistance of calcareous sand using X-ray CT [J]. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 2021, 140: 106428

[29] RuiS-J, GuoZ, SiT-L, et al.. Effect of particle shape on the liquefaction resistance of calcareous sands [J]. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 2020, 137106302

[30] XiaoP, LiuH-L, XiaoY, et al.. Liquefaction resistance of bio-cemented calcareous sand [J]. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 2018, 1079-19

[31] WangS, LeiX-W, MengQ-S, et al.. Model tests of single pile vertical cyclic loading in calcareous sand [J]. Marine Georesources & Geotechnology, 2021, 39(6): 670-681

[32] PengY, LiuJ-Y, DingX-M, et al.. Performance of X-section concrete pile group in coral sand under vertical loading [J]. China Ocean Engineering, 2020, 34(5): 621-630

[33] QinY, MengQ-S, WangR, et al.. Model experimental research on uplift single pile in calcareous sand of South China Sea [J]. Marine Georesources & Geotechnology, 2017, 35(5): 653-660

[34] SongY S, HongS. Effect of clay minerals on the suction stress of unsaturated soils [J]. Engineering Geology, 2020, 269: 105571

[35] YeW M, XuL, YeB, et al.. Experimental investigation on gas migration in saturated Shanghai soft clay [J]. Engineering Geology, 2017, 22220-28

[36] CaiG-J, PuppalaA J, LiuS-Y. Characterization on the correlation between shear wave velocity and piezocone tip resistance of Jiangsu clays [J]. Engineering Geology, 2014, 171: 96-103

[37] CaiG-J, LiuS-Y, TongL-Y. Field evaluation of deformation characteristics of a lacustrine clay deposit using seismic piezocone tests [J]. Engineering Geology, 2010, 116(34): 251-260

[38] TanakaH, LocatJ, ShibuyaS, et al.. Characterization of Singapore, bangkok, and ariake clays [J]. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 2001, 38(2): 378-400

[39] LiY, LiA-C, HuangP, et al.. Clay minerals in surface sediment of the north Yellow Sea and their implication to provenance and transportation [J]. Continental Shelf Research, 2014, 90: 33-40

[40] WangX-Z, WangX, JinZ-C, et al.. Investigation of engineering characteristics of calcareous soils from fringing reef [J]. Ocean Engineering, 2017, 134: 77-86