Proceedings ISC-2 on Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization, Viana da Fonseca & Mayne (eds.

)
© 2004 Millpress, Rotterdam, ISBN 90 5966 009 9

Geotechnical characterization of a residual soil profile:

the ISC’2 experimental site, FEUP
A. Viana da Fonseca, J. Carvalho, C. Ferreira & E. Costa
Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Portugal
C. Tuna
Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto and ETEC - Escritório Técnico de Engenharia Civil Lda, Portugal
J.A. Santos
Instituto Superior Técnico da Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Portugal

Keywords: residual saprolitic soils from granite, in situ and laboratory tests, stiffness and strength

ABSTRACT: This paper is part of a research project launched by the Faculty of Engineering of the Univer-
sity of Porto (FEUP) with the purpose of implementing an experimental test site on residual (saprolitic) soil
from granite. An International Prediction Event (Class A) on the behaviour of bored, CFA and driven piles in
this experimental site is being organized by FEUP and by Instituto Superior Técnico of the Technical Univer-
sity of Lisbon (ISTUTL). A very extensive site characterization has been held, including a large variety of in
situ tests. Researchers and designers were invited to deal with this investigation results in order to predict the
real response of the pile foundations. The description of the pile loading tests and the discussion of its results
are not included in this paper, which will solely describe the site characterization works and the complemen-
tary laboratory tests performed prior to the International Prediction Event. Several in-situ testing techniques
were used - Penetration tests: SPT and CPTU; Pressure-dilatometer tests: PMT and DMT; Seismic: Cross-
Hole (CH) and Down-Hole (DH) - in order to have a very comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical char-
acteristics of the soil. Undisturbed samples were retrieved and an extensive laboratory testing program was
carried out, including oedometric consolidation tests, CK0D triaxial tests using local strain measuring devices
and bender-extender elements, as well as resonant column tests. This paper presents and discusses the ob-
tained results, giving emphasis to the correlations encountered between the different tests specific of saprolitic
soils with weak relic structures.

1 INTRODUCTION instrumented pile load tests are very much informa-

In the North-Western region of Portugal, residual
soils from granite are dominant. The thickness of
these regional saprolitic soils may sometimes attain
more than 20m, with more common values of 5 to
10m. Due to their specific genesis such soils present
complex characteristics, which are a consequence,
on one hand, of their overall variability and hetero-
geneity and, on the other hand, of the spatial ar-
rangement and distribution of the particles and pore
spaces. Coarse and resistant quartz grains are
bonded by fragile clayey plagioclase bridges, result-
ing in a fabric with medium to high porosity. The
feldspars are subjected to intense weathering proc-
esses, typical of high average annual precipitation
and well-drained ground profiles. The mechanical
and hydraulic behaviour of these soils is often quite
distinct from sedimentary soils with similar densities
and grain size distributions.
The current design practice of bored and driven
piles in residual weathered formations is merely
semi-empirical and based on bearing capacity analy-
sis (in general, without deformation analysis). Fully
tive for modeling specific relations between load-
deformation behaviour and in situ tests results (and
also fundamental soil mechanics parameters ob-
tained from precise laboratory tests), leading to well-
based design criteria. The possibility of integrating
very wide information in a typical granite residual
soil profile will enable an innovative study on this
subject.
A fundamental base to the success of this study is
the execution of an extensive site investigation cam-
paign, and laboratory characterization tests, allowing
a confident and flexible choice of input parameters
for the participants of the pile prediction event. This
will also enable the accumulation of experience on
such non-textbook soil, composed by “young” resid-
ual soil (saprolitic) from granite.
2 ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
The typical Porto granite is a leucocratic alkaline
rock, medium to coarse grained, with mega-crystals
of feldspars and two micas. The chemical and min-

1361
eralogical constitution of this rock varies naturally,
generating a fairly heterogeneous mass. Near the
surface, the granites tend to appear in the form of re-
sidual (saprolitic) soils, which result from the weath-
ering of the original rock. The weathering process
includes the decomposition into sand at the early
stages, followed by the hydrolysis of the feldspars,
leading to the formation of kaolin. The weathering
factors acting on granite and gneissic masses seem
to be the discontinuity degree - that is, number, spac-
ing, orientation and continuity of joints - and the
proximity of different tectonic events, which deter-
mine the creation of weak zones where the water
flow action tends to increase decomposition. Spe-
cific geomorphologic and topographic conditions are
determinant, the deepest weathered profiles being
associated with rather incidental relief with accentu-
ated cuttings, possibly with discontinuities, creating
schist-graywacke complex “Complexo Xisto-
Grauváquico” (Cxg). Two spots of mica-schist and
meta-graywacke can be seen in the surroundings.
Chemical and mineralogical analyses are being
undertaken on sound and weathered rock samples re-
trieved from the experimental site. The results will
be published in due time.
3 SITE INVESTIGATION
3.1 Tests layout and geotechnical profile
A detailed experimental work was carried out in or-
der to characterize the extent of the weathered pro-
file. The tests layout is presented in Figure 2.
1 2 3
2.00 2.00

DMT2
subsequently fairly good drainage conditions (Viana CPT7
DMT7

T2
S1+ SPT
CPT1
DMT1

da Fonseca, 2003). The depth of weathering ranges C2

1.75
A
typically from 0 to 20 m with more common values E7 E8

2.00
of 5 to 9 m. The resulting soils are generally classi- 4.00 T1
CPT2 P S2
fied as silty sands (SM) and clayey sands (SC). Gen-
erally the fines content is non-plastic or of low plas- B E5
CPT9
E6 DMT3
PMT3

2.00
DMT9
ticity, with void ratios ranging from 0.6 to 0.8. S4+ SPT PMT2
4.00

CPT5

The experimental site of the University of Porto C1

E4
S3+ SPT

(“site@FEUP”) is situated in the geological map of C E3

CPT8
DMT8
DMT6
Porto in Figure 1. The specific area of implantation
4.00

TRENCH FOR SEISMIC PROFILES

E9
is identified and generally described in the legend.
CPT3
D E1 E2
S5+ SPT
2.20

DMT4 PMT1 E0
CPT6

CPT4

DMT5

LEGEND :

SITE CHARACTERIZATION PILES

S - Borehole with Sampling (+ SPT) E - Bored (D= 0.60m)
SPT; CPT; DMT; PMT T - CFA (D= 0.60m)
P - Piezometer C - Driven (0.35x0.35m)
Cross-Hole

Figure 2. Layout of the site characterization activities

(including location of the piles)

Apart from the natural spatial variability of the

a – alluvions (Holocene and Present)
X –metamorphic rocks (mica-schist and meta-graywacke)
G: igneous rocks (two-mica granitic rocks)
G1: medium or medium-to-fine grained granite – Porto Granite
G2: medium or medium-to-fine grained granite, sporadically
highly orientated – Porto Granite
Domains of intense kaolinization
Vertical schistosity
Figure 1. Geology of the Experimental site: Porto geological
map and description
The experimental site is located in a Hercinic
complex, known as “Contumil Granite”, which is
very similar to the dominant “Porto Granite”. Both
formations often reveal interpenetration in the
structure and fabric of these residual soils due to
some preserved relic heritage, there is evidence of a
fairly homogeneous pattern of ground profile in geo-
technical terms, as demonstrated by the results ob-
tained with continuous sampling taken from drilling,
with the SPT sampler and from high quality sam-
plers (description in paragraph 3.3). The former are
shown in Figure 3. Their description is presented
schematically in this figure, including photos of
samples obtained from borehole S3.
In the experimental site, axial static tests will be
performed on 3 different kinds of piles (bored, CFA
and driven) all of them with 6m of embedded length.
The boreholes were performed until 22m of depth,
which is far enough from the piles tip.

1362 © 2004 Millpress, Rotterdam, ISBN 90 5966 009 9

 An extensive geological and geotechnical charac- qc (MPa) fs (MPa) pLM , pf (MPa)

terization was undertaken, including in situ testing, 0.0 2.5 5.0 7.5 10.0 12.5 15.00.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0

0.0
which was conducted in two stages, before and after -1.0

the installation of the driven piles. 0.0 1.0

N60 (SPT) 1.0

2.0

Sandy deposit 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Borehole S3 pf pLM EM

0 2.0
3.0
Residual soil:
N(S1+SPT)
fine to medium sand (w5-w6 )
3.0
N(S3+SPT)
2 4.0
N(S4+SPT)
+ + +

Depth (m)
4.0

Depth (m)
N(S5+SPT) [0.00-5.50m] 5.0
4 . . . . . .
5.0
Residual soil:
fine to medium sand 6.0
(structured saprolitic soil 6.0
6
from granite)
7.0
7.0
Degree of weathering w5
8 [5.50-10.50m]
8.0
+ + + 8.0
GWL
PMT1 PMT2 PMT3
. . . . . .
Depth (m)

10 9.0
9.0

GWL
+ + + 10.0 10.0
12 qt - CPT1 qt - CPT2 ft - CPT1 ft - CPT2
. . . . . . 0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0
qt - CPT3 qt - CPT4 ft - CPT3 ft - CPT4
[10.50-16.00m] qt - CPT6 ft - CPT6 b) EM (MPa)

+ + +
a)
14 Ed (MPa) Kd Id
. . . . . .
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 10 20 30 40 50 0.1 1.0 10.0
+ + + +
-1.0
16 clay silt sand
. . . . . . .
0.0
[16.00-22.10 m]
Highly weathered granite,
18 medium grain (w5-w4) 1.0

+ + + + 2.0
20
3.0
+ + Bedrock + +

+ + + + +
[22.10-24.00m]
Depth (m)

22 4.0

Figure 3. Geotechnical profile and photos taken from samples 5.0

obtained in boreholes (S3 - Figure 2) 6.0

In the context of this paper, only the first stage of 7.0

tests is analyzed, and so, the soil disturbance intro- 8.0

duced by the piles driving process is not taken into 9.0

consideration. 10.0
DMT1 DMT2 DMT3 DMT1 DMT2 DMT3 DMT1 DMT2 DMT3

3.2 Summary of in situ tests results c) DMT4 DMT5 DMT4 DMT5 DMT4 DMT5

Note: All pore pressures measurements (u2) are approximately

The first stage of the site characterization included 4 zero and therefore it is reasonable to consider qc ≅ qt and fs ≅ ft
SPT, 5 CPTU, 5 DMT, 3 PMT and several CH, DH,
Figure 4. In-situ tests profile: a) CPTU: qc and fs; b) PMT: pf,
SASW and CSWS, while in the second stage were pLM and EM; c) DMT: Ed, Kd and Id
performed 4 CPTU and 4 DMT.
The technical data of the first stage of in situ tests 3.3 Laboratory tests results
is summarized in Figures 3, 4 and 5.
The results of shear wave CH tests confirm the Undisturbed samples were carefully taken from the
homogeneity of the soil profile in depth and this fact experimental site, in boreholes at specific depths, us-
can be observed in the combined plot of G0 and NSPT ing high quality samplers. The laboratory tests con-
results in Figure 5b. The small strain shear modulus ducted in the first phase of the program, comprised 6
(G0) was calculated assuming γ = 18.7 kN/m3 (aver- CK0D triaxial - 4 in compression with bender ele-
age value from laboratory measurements on undis- ment (BE) readings and 2 in extension – with local
turbed samples). strain measurements, 2 resonant column tests (RC),
and 1 oedometer test. All specimens are identified in
Tables 1 and 2.

Proceedings ISCʼ2 on Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization, Viana da Fonseca & Mayne (eds.) 1363
 VS (m/s) G0 (MPa) Table 2. Identification and soil index properties from
200 250 300 350 400 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 undisturbed specimens
0 0
γ w Sr wL wP <2um <#200 <#10
Specimen e
2 2
kN/m3 % % % % % % %
S2/1(c) 18.2 16.3 0.72 62 32 27 5.3 38.5 85.0
4 4 S2/2(e) 16.6 18.8 0.93 56
S2/3(c) 18.4 16.2 0.75 61 44 27 9.5 47.2 74.4
6 6
S2/4(e) 18.4 21.7 0.83 74
8 8 S2/5(c) 19.0 22.5 0.71 86 NP NP 7.7 41.2 82.5
depth (m)

depth (m)
S2/6(c) 19.0 20.2 0.68 81 NP NP 3.3 40.7 86.9
10 10

S5/1 20.0 13.8 0.50 74 --- --- --- --- ---

12 12
S5/2 17.8 22.1 0.82 73 --- --- --- --- ---

14 14
S5/3 19.0 19.7 0.66 80 --- --- --- --- ---
* ASTM Sieves series
16 16

0.074

0.105

0.180
0.250

0.841

2.000

4.760
ASTM Sieves series (mm)
18 S2-S1 18 G0
100 0
S3-S2 Porto:
N60 90 silty sand 10
20 20 S2/1 + S2/2
80 [3.20-3.80m] 20
0 20 40 60 S2/3 + S2/4
70 [4.00-4.70m] 30
N60 S2/5
a) b) 60 [5.50-6.10m] 40

% retained
% passed

S2/6
50 [7.00-7.60m] 50
Figure 5. CH results profile: a) CH shear waves velocities
40 60
across two different sections: S2-S1 & S3-S2; b) Average shear
30 70
modulus G0 and N60 results in depth
20 80

10 90
Table 1. List of laboratory specimens and testing methods
0 100

Specimen
Depth Testing Seismic σ'cv σ'ch 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10
Grain size (mm)
(m) Method test (kPa) (kPa)
SILT SAND
Triaxial CLAY GRAVEL
S2/1(c) 3.2 BE 60.0 30.0
compression1
FINE MEDIUM COARSE FINE MEDIUM COARSE

0.002 0.006 0.02 0.06 0.2 0.6 2.0 mm

Triaxial
S2/2(e) 3.5 --- 60.0 30.0
extension2 Figure 6. Grain size distribution curves from the experimental
Triaxial site, compared with Porto silty sand (Viana da Fonseca, 2003)
S2/3(c) 4.0 BE 90.0 45.0
compression1
Triaxial
S2/4(e) 4.4 --- 80.0 40.0 w (%) Sieve Analysis, % Passing 3
γ (kN/m )
extension2 0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 0.0 25.0 50.0 75.0 100.0 15.0 16.0 17.0 18.0 19.0 20.0

Triaxial 0.0 0
S2/5(c) 5.5 BE 100.0 50.0
compression1 1.0 0

Triaxial
S2/6(c) 7.0 BE 140.0 70.0
compression1
2.0 0

Resonant 3.0 0
S5/1 4.0 RC 80.0 40.0
column 4.0 0
Depth (m)

S5/2 6.3 Oedometer --- --- --- 5.0 0

Resonant
S5/3 8.0 RC 160.0 80.0 6.0 0
column
(1 ) CK0(=0.5)D under stress controled: σv'<<,σh'= ctt 7.0 0

(2) CK0(=0.5)D under strain-path controlled: σh'>>, σv'= ctt 8.0 0

<2um (%)
9.0 <#200 * (%) 0
Figure 6 shows the particle size distribution of the <#10 * (%)
10.0 0
tested specimens obtained from borehole S2, and a
typical grain size distribution fuse for Porto silty Figure 7. Soil index properties (borehole S2)
sand.
According to the identification tests results, the Laboratory tests focused mainly on triaxial tests.
main composition of this saprolitic soil is a fine to Stress-path and corresponding stress-strain curves
medium grade and low plasticity material, classified are shown in Figure 8. At rest coefficient K0 was
as silty sand (SM). taken as 0.50, though the regional experience indi-
The most representative identification and soil cate even lower values (Viana da Fonseca and
properties for borehole S2 are presented over depth Almeida e Sousa, 2001). From the analysis of tests
in Figure 6. results, the following strength parameters were
obtained (specimen S2/3 was not considered due to
1364 © 2004 Millpress, Rotterdam, ISBN 90 5966 009 9
obtained (specimen S2/3 was not considered due to 4 GENERAL TRENDS AND CORRELATIONS
some inconsistency): BETWEEN TESTS
φ’ = 45.8º; c’ = 4.5 kPa
From the SPT results, the following linear relation
The oedometer and resonant column tests curves,
between NSPT and the at rest effective vertical stress,
carried out on specimens from borehole S5, are pre- σ’v0 was derived:
sented in Figures 9 and 10.
400 400
N 60 = 0.11 ⋅ σ' v 0 +8.20 (R2 = 0.63) (1)
300 300
The values of (N1)60 vary between 14 and 34,
200 200 with a mean value of 22, which classify this soil as
Ko = 0.5
medium to dense sand, according to Skempton
100 100
(1986). Based on these values of (N1)60, the angle of
q (kPa)

0 0 shearing resistance can be estimated from Décourt’s

0 100 200 300 400 -3.0

-100
-1.0

-100
1.0 3.0 5.0 7.0
(1989) proposal and a range of 35º-41º was obtained,
with an average of 38º. This value of φ’ coincides
-200 -200
S2/1 (c) S2/2 (e)
with those reported in similar regional soils, namely
-300 -300
S2/3 (c) S2/4 (e) for Porto silty sand (Viana da Fonseca et al., 1998;
S2/5 (c)
S2/6 (c) Viana da Fonseca, 2003).
The relation between qc from CPT and σ’v0 is
-400 -400
p' (kPa) εa (%)

Figure 8. Triaxial tests: stress-path and stress-strain curves presented in Figure 11, which integrates Robertson
(compression and extension) and Campanella’s (1983) curves for the estimation
of the angle of shearing resistance. The CPT results
0.85
reveal a moderate increase of qc in depth, as shown
0.80 in the linear relation with σ’v0, as follows:
0.75

0.70 q c = 25 ⋅ σ' v 0 +2.29 (qc and σ’v0 in MPa; R2=0.30) (2)

Void ratio

0.65
15.0
0.60 CPT1 φ'=48 φ'=46 φ'=44 φ'=42 φ'=40
CPT2
0.55 12.5
CPT3
0.50 CPT4
S5/2 [6.25-6.50m] 10.0 φ'=38
CPT6
0.45
qc (MPa)

0.01 0.1 1 10
7.5
Pressure (M Pa)
φ'=36
Figure 9. Oedometer test results: compressibility curve 5.0 φ'=34

φ'=32
In the resonant column tests, the specimens 2.5 φ'=30

were reconsolidated under anisotropic conditions for

a stress level equal to the best estimation of the in 0.0

situ stresses (Table 1). The normalized stiffness and 0 25 50 75 100

σ'v0 (kPa)
125 150 175 200

the damping ratio are plotted as a function of the

Figure 11. Relation between qc values, in situ at rest effective
shear strain in Figure 10. The evolution of these stress , σ’v0, and the angle of shearing resistance, φ’ (Robertson
curves is very similar to the ones obtained in sands and Campanella, 1983)
(Santos, 1999).
1.00 Robertson and Campanella’s proposal tends to
lead to higher values of φ’, especially at lower
14.0
0.90

0.80 12.0 depths, than those obtained from triaxial tests, since
0.70
10.0 the cohesive component is not considered. This re-
0.60
8.0
flects the simultaneous sensitivity of qc towards fric-
G/G0

ξ (%)
0.50
tional and cohesive components. However, in the
0.40 6.0
present case, the CPT results are rather constant in
0.30
4.0 depth, crossing a wide range of friction angles (35-
0.20 S5/1 S5/3
G/G0 G/G0 2.0
42º) with more incidence at 37º, which is much
0.10
ξ (%) ξ (%) lower than the one obtained in the laboratory tests.
0.00 0.0

1.0E-06 1.0E-05 1.0E-04 1.0E-03

This can be a consequence of the behaviour of a co-
shear strain, γ hesive-frictional soil, where the lower confinement
Figure 10. Resonant column results: normalized stiffness and levels are dominated by the cohesive component,
damping ratio versus shear strain while the higher are mostly governed by friction.

Proceedings ISCʼ2 on Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization, Viana da Fonseca & Mayne (eds.) 1365
 The classification chart by Robertson (1990)
shows considerable dispersion, but it should be
noted that all CPTU results were included in the
graph. The chart, presented in Figure 12, identifies
this material as cemented and aged, with a grain size
distribution from silty clays to clayey sands. The soil
can be classified as clayey silty sand.
1000
7
φ' OCR = 1
100
6
for the same particle size distribution, due to intrin-
sic heterogeneity. The Brazilian data show a general
trend of lower values for the relation qc/N60 with D50
than that expressed by Robertson & Campanella’s
(1983) average line. The data from this experimental
site are in close agreement with those results, how-
ever somewhat contradictory with Porto silty sand
data, as illustrated in Figure 14. This discrepancy is
probably a consequence of the more intensive clayey
8 content of the soil in the present experimental site.
1.0
9
Robertson et al. (1983)
6 0.9
RJ. Adrianópolis-clayey silty sand
0.8 RJ. Adrianópolis-sandy silty clay
RJ. PUC-silty sand
0.7

qc/N 60 (qc, MPa)

RS. UFRGS-sandy silty clay
Qt = (qc- σv0)/σ'v0

0.6
5 site@FEUP-clayey silty sand (finer)
0.5 Porto-silty sand (coarser)

4 0.4
5
0.3
10 0.2
4
OCR >>>
CPT1
0.1
1 3 CPT2
0.0
SENS >> CPT3
0.001 0.010 0.100 1.000
3 CPT4 D50 (mm)
2

1
CPT6 Figure 14. Ranges of qc/N versus D50 on Brazilian residual
0.1 1 10
soils, compared with the experimental site results (based on
Fr = fs/(qc-σv0)*100 (%) Danziger et al, 1998)

Groups for identification of soil type: Other reported values of the ratio qc/NSPT for dif-
1. Sensitive, fine grained; 2. Organic soils - peats; 3. Clays -
clay to silty clay; 4. Silt mixtures - clayey silt to silty clay; 5.
ferent residual soils are indicated in Table 3, along
Sand mixtures - silty sand to sandy silt; 6. Sands - clean sand to with results from this experimental site. The per-
silty sand; 7. Gravelly sand to sand; 8. Very stiff sand to clayey centage of fines has a clear influence in the obtained
sand (cemented); 9. Very stiff fine grained (cemented) values.
Figure 12. Soil behavior classification chart (Robertson, 1990) Table 3. Estimated values of qc/NSPT for different residual soils
qc / NSPT
Being the two most frequently used penetration REFERENCE
[qc, MPa]
tests, it is usual to establish correlations between Sandroni (1985)
SPT and CPT results. The ratio qc/N60 depends on 0.30 - 0.78
Brazilian residual soils
the mean grain size, D50 (Robertson and Campan- Ajayi e Balogum (1988)
0.40
ella, 1983) and, for the case of the experimental site, Nigerian saprolitic and lateritic tropical soils
this ratio varied from 0.17 to 0.36 (D50 = 0.15 mm). Chang (1988)
0.20
Figures 13 and 14 present the obtained results, in- Singaporean saprolitic granite soils
Viana da Fonseca (2003)
cluding correlations proposed by other authors. Porto silty sand (coarser)
0.50-0.90
Experimental site @FEUP
0.17-0.36
10.0 clayey silty sand (finer)
site@FEUP-clayey silty sand (finer)
Porto-silty sand (coarser)
DMT and PMT results are not discussed in detail
in this paper, as they will be published elsewhere in
qc/N 60 (qc, MPa)

Robertson &
Campanella
this Conference. Preliminary analysis of these tests
1.0
results enabled the soil identification. For instance,
Folque DMT Id graph presented in Figure 4c), classifies it as
Burland & a silty sand to silt, which corroborates with the re-
Burbidge
sults of the penetration tests.
The results of shear wave CH tests are very con-
0.1
0.01 0.10 1.00 10.00
sistent and reveal a very smooth increase of G0 with
D50 (mm) depth. The best linear fit with the overburden effec-
Figure 13. qc/N60 versus D50 from the experimental site, tive vertical stress is:
compared with regional data and reference correlations.
G 0 (MPa) =127.8+ 218 ⋅ σ' v 0 (R2 = 0.83) (3)
Danzinger et al. (1998) concluded that different
parent rocks generally produce different correlations

1366 © 2004 Millpress, Rotterdam, ISBN 90 5966 009 9

 Assuming a representative value for the at rest 200

coefficient K0 = 0.36, based on regional experience 175

site@FEUP-clayey silty sand (finer)

Porto-silty sand (coarser)

(Viana da Fonseca and Almeida e Sousa, 2001), this
150
expression can be rewritten as a function of the
mean effective stress, p’0: 125

G0 (MPa)
100

G 0 (MPa) =127.8+ 380 ⋅ p' 0 (R2 = 0.83) (4) 75

Viana da Fonseca
(2003)

50
Viana da Fonseca (2003) proposed the following Ishihara (1982)
relation, for Porto silty sand: 25

G 0 (MPa) = 98.5+ 230 ⋅ p' 0 (5) 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

p'0 (MPa)

Ishihara’s (1986) proposals for natural alluvial
sands, aged and cemented, correspond to:
(
G 0 (MPa) = [3.16 to5.72]⋅ F(e) ⋅ p'0 ⋅103 )
0.4
where F(e) =
(2.17 − e )2
1+ e
In order to establish similar relations for the pre-
sent soil, it is first necessary to define the void ratio
function in depth. With the undisturbed samples re-
covered in the experimental site, it was possible to
determine the respective void ratios, shown in Table
2 and an estimate of its variation over depth was cal-
culated, which provided a good correlation:
−0.019⋅z
e = 0.783 ⋅ exp 2
(R = 0.63)
Having normalized the small strain shear
modulus to the void ratio function, the initial pro-
posal was rewritten, as follows:
G0
= 110 ⋅ p' 0 0.02
F(e)
It can be seen that the value of the constant for
the small strain shear modulus expression is much
higher for these residual soils (A=110) than for
sandy transported soils (A=3.2 to 5.7), while the ex-
Figure 15. Comparison between observed and reference
proposals of G0 variation with effective stresses
Correlations between NSPT and stiffness are very
(6) sensitive to different factors, while those relations
between penetration parameters and small strain
shear modulus (G0) are somewhat independent of
(7) misleading factors, such as scale effects, non-
linearity, etc (Jamiolkowski et al., 1988). Following
Stroud’s (1988) suggestion, a simple but very useful
power law between G0 and N60 was obtained for this
case, where only the SPT results from the boreholes
nearest to the CH tests (S1 and S3) were considered:
G 0 (MPa) = 63 ⋅ N 60 0.30 (11)
This expresses a stronger relation than that reported
by Viana da Fonseca (2003) for Porto silty sand:
(8)
G 0 (MPa) = 57 ⋅ N 60 0.20 (12)
Jamiolkowski et al. (1988) showed that the same
variables of soil density and in situ effective stresses
control both qc and G0. Hence, correlations between
qc and G0 can be found for uncemented and unaged
(9)
cohesionless soils, such as Robertson (1991) and Rix
and Stokoe (1992) proposals. These are framed with
results from this experimental site and Porto silty
sand in Figure 16.
70
site@FEUP-clayey silty sand (finer)
60 Porto-silty sand (coarser)

ponent m, reflecting the influence of the mean effec-

50
tive stress, is substantially lower.
For Porto silty sand, Viana da Fonseca (2003) 40
G0/qc

found different constants, as illustrated in equation 30

Robertson
(10), which describe a slightly higher dependence of (1991)
20
G0 on the mean effective stress. This may result
from the fact that the saturation conditions of these 10 Rix & Stokoe (1992)

soils are significantly different. The comparison of 0

these trends is presented in Figure 15. 100 1000 10000

qc/¥σ'v0

G0 Figure 16. G0/qc versus qc/¥σ’v0 from in-situ tests at FEUP

= 65 ⋅ p' 0 0.07 (10) experimental site, compared with other regional data and with
F(e)
reference curves

Proceedings ISCʼ2 on Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization, Viana da Fonseca & Mayne (eds.) 1367
 Cementation and ageing have different influences Finally, a summary of the strength parameters de-
over qc and G0 (Lunne et al., 1997). Robertson et al. rived from in situ and laboratory tests results is pre-
(1995) suggested a chart based on normalized cone sented in the following table.
resistance (Qt) and G0/qc which allows for the identi-
fication of “unusual” soils such as highly compressi- Table 4. Strength parameters from in situ and laboratory tests
ble sands, cemented and aged soils and clays with TESTS φ’ c'
either high and low void ratio. This chart is pre- [º] [kPa]
sented in Figure 17, together with our results. In situ SPT 38 n/a
Shear wave velocities (VS) measured in situ, via CPT 37 n/a
Cross-Hole tests, and in the laboratory, with bender DMT 39 n/a
elements or in the resonant column, are compared in Laboratory TX compression 45.8 4.5
Figure 18. TX extension 28 12
1000
site@FEUP-clayey silty sand (finer)
gravelly sand Porto-silty sand (coarser)
5 CONCLUSIONS

100 young uncemented soils

ageing &
cementation
The extensive site characterization carried out at the
ISC’2 experimental site at the University of Porto
sand
has enabled the determination of the most relevant
geotechnical properties of this soil profile, as well as
Qt

increasing to derive and to compare the obtained correlations

compressibility
10 sand mixtures low
void ratio
with other proposals, with emphasis to those on re-
silt mixtures
sidual soils from granite.
high
This residual saprolitic soil from granite can be
void ratio
organics
clays classified as clayey silty sand and this assumption is
1
supported by the results of several kinds of tests.
1 10 100 Syntheses of the preliminary derived mechanical
G0/qc properties were presented.
Figure 17. Soil classification based on Qt and G0/qc (based on
Robertson et al., 1995)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
VS (m/s) in situ (CH) & lab (BE+RC)
The authors are grateful to the Private Sponsors of
0 100 200 300 400
this experimental site: Mota-Engil, SA, Sopecate,
0
SA; Tecnasol-FGE, SA, and Teixeira Duarte, SA. A
special thank is due to Ing. Ricardo Andrade and
2 Ing. Nuno Cruz from Mota-Engil, SA (formerly
from CICCOPN, also sponsor by facilitating some
Depth (m)

S2-S1

4
S3-S2 of the tests).
S2/1 - BE Part of this work was financially supported by the
S2/3 - BE research project: POCTI / ECM / 33796 / 1999:
6
S2/5 - BE “Management of sampling quality on residual soils
S2/6 - BE and soft clayey soils. Comparative analysis of in situ
8 S5/1 - RC and laboratory seismic waves velocities”.
S5/2 - RC This work was developed under the research
10 activities of CEC from the FEUP and ICIST of IST,
supported by multi-annual funding from FCT (Por-
Figure 18. VS profiles from in situ and laboratory tests
tuguese Science and Technology Foundation).
The similarity of VS trends in depth from both in
situ and laboratory tests is evident and the differ- REFERENCES
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