Prediction of embankment settlements over marine clay using piezocone penetration tests

The paper discusses the use of piezocone penetration testing (CPTU) and evaluates four methods of interpretation for predicting the deformation constrained modulus (M) used to calculate the consolidation settlement of cohesive soil. CPTU tests were performed at eight embankment sites in the Lianyungang marine clay and high-quality samples for laboratory testing were collected close to the CPTU test locations. The constrained modulus (M) values predicted using the different interpretation methods were compared with the reference values determined from the laboratory consolidation tests. A new correlation was also developed to predict M from the net cone tip resistance (qt − σvo). The paper discusses a simple approach to the use of the CPTU method to estimate the settlements of expressway embankments