Preconsolidation pressure of Champlain clays. Part 11.

Laboratory determination

S. LEROUEIL
A N D F. TAVENAS
Department of Civil Engineering, Universitt?Lnvnl, QuPDec, QuP., Cailodn G1K 7P4
AND
L. SAMSON
A N D P. MORIN'
Terratech, A division of SNC Inc., 275 Benjamin-Hudon Street, Montre'al, QuP., Canncla H4N IJI
Can. Geotech. J. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by McMaster University on 12/22/14

Received October 7 , 1982

Accepted June 28, 1983

A series of conventional and special consolidation tests was carried out on clay samples from 11 sites in the Champlain sea
basin. The results show that, for a given clay at a given depth, there is a unique preconsolidation pressure - strain rate relationship
independent of the tests carried out and that the relationships obtained in different Champlain clays can be normalized.
Correlations between the preconsolidation pressure values obtained from the different special consolidation tests and the
conventional test are established, and a method of estimating in-situ preconsolidation pressure is suggested.
Keywords: preconsolidation pressure, laboratory, testing techniques, strain rate.

Des sCries d'essais de consolidation spCciaux et conventionnels ont CtC rCalisCs sur des Cchantillons d'argile provenant de 11
sites diffkrents du bassin de la mer Champlain. Les rCsultats ont dCmontrt qu'il existe, pour une argile donnCe provenant d'une
profondeur donnee, une relation unique entre la pression de prCconsolidation et la vitesse de deformation qui est indipendante du
type d'essai rCalisC; les relations obtenues pour differentes argiles Champlain peuvent &trenormalisCes.
On a Cgalement Ctabli des relations entre la pression de prCconsolidation dCterminCe par essais spCciaux et celle dtrivCe de
For personal use only.

I'essai cedomitrique conventionnel. Une mCthode de dktermination de la pression de prCconsolidation in situ est proposCe.
Mots-cle's: pression de prCconsolidation, laboratoire, techniques d'essais, vitesse.
Can. Geotech. J. 20, 803-816 (1983)

Introduction
The preconsolidation pressure is certainly the most
important characteristic of clays: it is the vertical
effective stress beyond which large strains occur,
particularly in sensitive clays. Also, as shown by
Tavenas and Leroueil (1979), the preconsolidation
pressure ub is the parameter that controls the overall
behaviour of clay. It is thus important to determine this
parameter by a reliable method.
The principal difficulty in determining a representa-
tive ub value arises from the fact that the preconsolida-
tion pressure measured in the laboratory is not unique for
a given clay but depends on the type and characteristics
of the test used (Crawford 1964, 1965; Jarrett 1967;
Sallfors 1975; Vaid et al. 1979; Leroueil et al. 1983).
The problem is therefore to determine which test
procedure provides the best a; for use in foundation
design. To answer this question, a research program was
undertaken to compare a; mobilized in Champlain
clays under embankments with u; values measured in
the laboratory using all known test procedures (Samson
et al. 1981).
Part I of this paper (Morin et al. 1983) described how
the in-situ preconsolidation pressure was determined on
'Present address: Faculty of Engineering and Applied
Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's,
Nfld., Canada A1B 3 x 5 .
five sites and the results were compared with values
obtained from conventional oedometer tests (multiple
stage loading tests in which each load increment equals
half the previous load and has a duration of 24 h) on
undisturbed samples taken with a 70 mm diameter piston
sampler. It was concluded that the in-situ and laboratory
preconsolidation pressure values ( u ~ , were
~ ~ in
~ fairly
)
close agreement for soft to firm clays with OCR in the
range commonly encountered in Champlain clays. More
generally an empirical correlation was developed:
[ 1I u; in sirrr = a tu; conv
where the empirical coefficient a, would take the fol-
lowing values:
a l = 1.1 for OCR < 1.2
a, = 1.0 for 1.2 < OCR < 2.5
a, = 0.9 for 2.5 < OCR < 4.5
This correlation is established, however, on a particu-
lar test technique, the conventional oedometer test,
which is known to have some shortcomings: the number
of experimental points is limited so that the drawing of
the oedometric curve and the estimation of the precon-
solidation pressure in either E-u: or e - log u: graphs
are not very accurate; about 10 days are needed to
complete the test, making it rather expensive. To
overcome some of these disadvantages, other tech-
niques have been suggested: (a) the constant rate of
 804 CAN. GEOTECH. J . VOL. 20. 1983
strain oedometer test (Hamilton and Crawford 1959;
Smith and Wahls 1969; Wissa et al. 1971; Sallfors
1975); (b) the controlled gradient oedometer test (Lowe
et a / . 1969); (c) the single stage loading oedometer test
(Leroueil et al. 1980); (d) the anisotropic triaxial
consolidation test (Tavenas and Leroueil 1977).
All these special test procedures were used on the clay
from the Gloucester site (Leroueil et al. 1983) and the
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following conclusions were drawn: (a) all oedometer
tests were consistent and showed a unique preconsolida-
tion pressure - strain rate relationship for the clay at a
given depth; (b) special tests yielded higher preconsoli-
dation pressure values than the conventional test, which
was consistent with their higher rates of strain.
The last conclusion, combined with the findings
reported in Part I that there is a fairly close agreement
between in-situ and conventional laboratory preconsoli-
dation pressures (eq. [I]), indicates that the special
consolidation tests generally overestimate the in-situ
a;. Can the special consolidation tests be used in
practice and, if so, how?
In the research described in this paper, all these
special laboratory techniques were used to measure the
For personal use only.
preconsolidation pressure of samples from 11 sites in the
Champlain sea basin. The aim of this paper is to verify
the general validity of the uniqueness of a preconsolida-
tion pressure - strain rate relationship for a given clay,
and to develop some rules for Champlain clays allowing
the use of special consolidation tests to determine the
in-situ preconsolidation pressure.
Sites investigated
The investigated clay deposits were formed in the
Champlain sea, which occupied what is now called the
St. Lawrence Lowlands and the Ottawa Valley from
approximately 12 500 to 10 000 BP, until the combined
effects of glacio-isostatic rebound and the eustatic rise of
sea level expelled the sea (Quigley 1980).
Linked with the salt water of the Gulf of St.
Lawrence, the Champlain sea was also fed by fresh
water from rivers and the northern ice front so that the
salinity of the water probably varied from place to place.
The sedimented clays, however, are usually marine
clays; their grain size distribution and physical proper-
ties vary horizontally and vertically within the basin.
Therefore, while Champlain clay deposits from various
sites present some similarities, such as high sensitivity,
they also show a wide range of characteristics.
The 11 sites investigated are shown on Fig. 1 and
listed with a number and a symbol in Table 1; they are
widely spread in the basin of the Champlain sea and are
representative of most deposits found in this region. The
Joliette (5) and St-Alban (8) sites are shoreline deposits
at the toe of the Canadian Shield; the Ste-Catherine (6),
Varennes (4), Mascouche (7), Louiseville (lo), and
Batiscan (1 1) sites are in the centre of the basin; the
St-Ctsaire (2) and Fort Lennox (9) sites are in the south
near the Appalachian mountains; the Gloucester site (3)
is in the west part of the basin.
On each site at least one borehole was drilled and a
Nilcon vane test sounding was taken nearby. Sites 1-6
were investigated by Terratech, and the clay was
sampled with a modified 70 mm diameter Geonor piston
sampler with an area ratio of 11% and inside clearance of
0.9%. At the Gloucester site (3) a large diameter
(300 mm) block type sample was taken at 4.1 m depth
with the Sherbrooke sampler (Lefebvre and Poulin
1979).
The geotechnical section of UniversitC Laval investi-
gated sites 7- 11, where the large diameter (200 mm)
Laval sampler (La Rochelle et al. 1981 ) was used. All
samples were stored in humid rooms at 10°C at
Terratech and 8°C at UniversitC Laval.
On each site, profiles of the geotechnical properties,
including the undrained shear strength and the conven-
tional preconsolidation pressure, were established and,
at least at one depth, a series of special consolidation
tests was carried out to investigate the preconsolidation
pressure.
Typical values of geotechnical properties at the
investigated sites are given in Table 1. They show a wide
variety of soil properties. The water content varies
between 60 and 93%; the liquid limit ranges between 40
and 70, the lowest values being observed in the northern
boundary of the basin at Joliette and St-Alban; the
liquidity index varies from 0.9 at Varennes to 2.7 at
Batiscan. The mechanical properties also show a wide
range of values, between 13 and 70 kPa for the vane
shear strength and between 47 and 270kPa for the
conventional preconsolidation pressure.
Details of the sites and the tests carried out are
presented in the references listed in Table 1. The data
from the Gloucester site have been previously described
by Leroueil et al. (1983) and will be used here only to
arrive at general conclusions.
Testing techniques
Various types of consolidation tests were carried out
during the study. The test methods used are as follows:
(a) Conventional oedometer test: the specimens were
loaded in steps using a load increment ratio A P I P = 0.5
and a reloading schedule of 24 h; drainage was allowed
at both ends of the specimen.
(b) Multiple stage loading oedometer test (MSL),
similar to the conventional test but with drainage at the
top only and pore pressure measured at the bottom.
Loading duration was either the time required for
primary consolidation to occur, (MSL),, or 24h,
(MSL)24, SO as to determine the effect of secondary
consolidation on a;.
 LEROUEIL ET AL.
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For personal use only.
FIG. 1. Geographical distribution of Champlain clays.
(c) Constant rate of strain oedometer test (CRS), with
the strain rate varying from test to test between 5.3 x
and 8.5 X lop5s-'. For the Batiscan site, rates as
'
low as 1.7 X lo-' s- were used (Bouchard 1982).
(d) Controlled gradient oedometer test (CGT), with a
pore pressure difference Aub between the top and the
bottom of the specimen, varying between 3.5 and
36kPa. As shown by Wissa et al. (1971), the pore
pressure difference Aub is related, among other para-
meters, to the strain rate €, of the specimen. Therefore,
varying the magnitude of Aub in the CGT tests will have
an effect on the stress-strain behaviour of the clay
similar to that observed when varying €, in the CRS
tests.
(e) Single stage loading oedometer test (SSL) in
which a unique load corresponding to 1.5-3 times the
anticipated preconsolidation pressure was applied to the
specimen. According to Leroueil et al. (1980), the curve
showing the vertical effective stress at the base of the
specimen plotted against the logarithm of time develops
a step at an effective stress equal to the preconsolidation
pressure. In such tests, o;is reached in a very short time
and is associated with very high strain rates.
805
(f) Anisotropic triaxial consolidation test (ATC) with
stresses applied in equal increments, each having a
duration of 24 h; a stress ratio of ak/u: = 0.5 was
used. In these conditions yielding is reached at a vertical
effective stress equal to the preconsolidation pressure of
the clay (Tavenas and Leroueil 1977).
The specimens were 12.7 mm high and 64mm in
diameter for conventional oedometer tests carried out at
Terratech (sites 1-6) and 19.0 mm high and 50.8 mm in
diameter at Universitt Laval (sites 7-11). No back
pressure was used for these tests. The CRS tests were
carried out at UniversitC Laval without back pressure on
specimens 19.0 mm high and 50.8 mm in diameter. All
other oedometer tests were performed in three, identi-
cal, specially designed TUL cells (Samson et al. 1981)
in which a back pressure of 100 kPa was applied at the
top and the excess pore pressure measured at the base of
the specimen; the samples were 15 mm high and 55 mm
in diameter. The oedometer rings were always coated
with silicon oil before testing.
The anisotropic triaxial tests were performed in
conventional triaxial cells on specimens 76 or 71 mm
high and 38 mm in diameter. Drainage was permitted at
 806 CAN. GEOTECH. J . VOL. 20, 1983

TABLE
1. Geotechnical properties of clays

Number cu
and Depth w St field vane ad, a;,,
Site symbol (m) (%) WL Ip IL fall cone (kPa) (kPa) (kPa) Reference

Berthierville Samson et n l . 1981

Morin et 01. 1983
St-CCsaire Samson et nl. 1981
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St-Cksaire
Gloucester Samson et nl. 198 1
Leroueil et nl. 1983
Gloucester
Gloucester
Varennes Samson et nl. 1981
Joliette Samson et 01. 198 1
Ste-Catherine Samson et nl. 1981
Morin et nl. 1983
Mascouc he Leahy 1980
Marchand 1982
St-Alban Leroueil etnl. 19780
Leahy 1980
Fort Lennox Leahy 1980
Paquin 1983
Louiseville Leahy 1980
For personal use only.

Leblond 198 1
Batiscan Bouchard 1982
Other sites Authors' files

both ends and radially to the circumference of the
sample.
For the oedometer tests, the measured vertical dis-
placement was corrected for the filter papers and system
compressibility. In the CRS and CGT tests, the correc-
ted strain E, = A H / H O or void ratio e was related to an
average calculated effective stress a: using the follow-
ing equation (Smith and Wahls 1969; Wissa etal. 197 1):
where u, = total vertical applied stress, uo = applied
back pressure, and ub = pore pressure measured at the
base of the specimen.
Leroueil et al. (1980) have pointed out the limitations
of [2] when a(, is close to a; in sensitive clays. On the
other hand the measured values of ub at u; were such
that the error on a; could generally be considered
negligible.
The preconsolidation pressure was defined for all tests
except the SSL test in a e - logut plot by the
Casagrande method and is given in this paper with a
small range straddling this a; value and taking into
account the uncertainty associated with its determina-
tion, as shown in Fig. 2 of Part I. The oedometric curve
could also be drawn in a E,-u: diagram in which E, is
the vertical strain; in fact, for Champlain clays that are
sensitive, the preconsolidation pressure is well defined
in both e - log a: and E,-IJ: plots.
Strain rate dependency of the preconsolidation
pressure
More than 150 consolidation tests were ~erformedfor
the present study. Results obtained on thedifferent sites
are consistent with those reported for the Gloucester site
by Leroueil et al. (1983) and will not be described in
detail here.
All tests carried out show that there is no unique value
for the preconsolidation pressure for a given clay at a
given depth, but that there are as many values of a;
as testing techniques. These results confirm previous
observations by Crawford (1964, 1965), Jarrett (1967),
Sallfors (1975), Vaid et al. (1979), and Leroueil et al.
(1983). The last authors, however, have shown on one
site (Gloucester) that the results obtained from the
different tests are consistent if the strain rate dependency
of the preconsolidation pressure is considered.
For the CRS tests, the a; values can be directly
related to the strain rate €, applied to the specimens.
During the CGT tests, the strain rate varies continuously
but it is possible to associate a: with the strain rate at
the moment when the soil specimen is passing the
preconsolidation pressure.
In the MSL tests, the strain rate also varies con-
tinuously during each incremental loading and the
stress-strain plot is established using the experimental
points determined at the end of each loading period.
Considering that in these tests the preconsolidation
 LEROUEIL ET AL.
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For personal use only.

strain rote Q,,% /min

FIG.2. Variation of ureconsolidation uressure with strain rate in oedometer tests at the Gloucester site (from Leroueil et 01.

STRAIN RATE iv,

S-'

10-7 10-6 10-5 l

a
0 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
x
g CRS
8
-
2 CGT
70
CONVENTIONAL
H
W
3
a
a
60 .
(MSL)p

(:IMSL)24
I9
a
E
z
2
l-
17
::
J

Z
50.

0
U
W
a BERTHIERVILLE
Depth:3.7m
I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I I I 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
40

FIG. 3. Variation of preconsolidation pressure with strain rate in oedometer tests at the Berthierville site.
 CAN. GEOTECH. J. VOL. 20, 1983

STRAIN RATE ;", S-'

150
ld8 Io -~ 10-6 I 0-5 lo-4
I I 1 1 1 1 I I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 111
a
.r
g CRS
bn 2 CGT
130 -
w
a [ CONVENTIONAL 2
3
z (MSLIp 1
% P
W
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a
lo _
D
(MSL)Z4
1
Z
0
C

?
J

Z
0
U
90. D
W
a
LL ST-CESAIRE
Depth 6.8177
I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
70

FIG.4. Variation of preconsolidation pressure with strain rate in oedometer tests at the St-Ctsaire site.

STRAIN RATE i,, S-'

iB8 to-7 ld6 I 0-5
0 90 I f I 1 1 1 I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I I I I I I l l I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
%
For personal use only.

CRS
-a
b 1
3
80 '
CGT

L] C O N V E N T I O N A L 1
1
(MSLIp
W
a
a (MSL)W
Z
70
8
0
t
D
X
-1

2z 60 @
F . .. . .. ..
. . ,
0
U
W
LL
a
STE -CATHERINE
Depth: 3.8 rn
50 I I I 1 1 1 1 1 I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 I I I 1 1 1 1 1

FIG. 5. Variation of preconsolidation pressure with strain rate in oedometer tests at the Ste-Catherine site.
pressure value depends mainly on the normally consoli- relationship between the preconsolidation pressure and
dated branch of the e - loga: (or E,-a:) curve, and the strain rate for a given clay at a given depth. It is worth
particularly on the two or three experimental points noting that the multiple stage loading tests with a load
immediately following the preconsolidation pressure, duration of 24 h, (MSL),,, and the conventional tests,
Leroueil et al. (1983) have suggested associating this correspond to the lowest strain rates and consequently
preconsolidation pressure with the strain rate range provide the lowest a; values.
observed at the end of the loading periods corresponding The a;-€, relationships presented in Figs. 2-6 are
to these two or three points. similar in shape. The magnitude of the strain rate effect
The a;-€, values obtained in this way from CRS, per log cycle of $ on a; is between 14% at Berthierville
CGT, MSL, and conventional tests are plotted in Figs. and 10% at Louiseville and suggests that the a;-€,
2-6 for the Gloucester, Berthierville, St-CCsaire, Ste- relationships can be normalized with respect to a; at a
Catherine, and Louiseville sites. given strain rate.
In spite of some scattering in the data which could be Figure 7 shows the variation between the strain rate
attributed to the natural variability of the tested speci- and the preconsolidation pressure, normalized with
mens, the seven series of results demonstrate the respect to the a; value obtained, for each series of tests,
consistency in findings obtained from the different on an average a;-€, curve at an arbitrary strain rate of 4
consolidated tests, and confirm the existence of a unique x 1 0 - ~ s - ' . This strain rate was chosen because
 LEROUEIL ET AL.

STRAIN RATE iv,

S-'
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LOUlSEVlLLE
Depth: 9.2m
140

FIG.6. Variation of preconsolidation pressure with strain rate in oedorneter tests at the Louiseville site.

VERTICAL STRAIN R A T E ;,,,S-l

I@ I 0-7 10-8 I UJ 10-4
1.3
A O T T A W A ,C R A M F O R D , 1 9 6 5
O T H E R S I T E S AND S Y M B O U
0
For personal use only.

SEE T A B L E I
1.2

1.1

--
''D
0
YI

'P" 1.0 ,
0
-
d

-a ',-X
SC.
b 0.9 U

b" a
I'

0 /o
/--
0.7 /--

I I 1 1 1 1 1 1
0.6

FIG.7. Normalized preconsolidation pressure - strain rate relationship.

numerous results with strain rates close to this value
were available and because it was in the middle of the
investigated strain rate range. For reasons of clarity,
only average values of the preconsolidation pressure and
eventually of the strain rate were plotted for each test.
Overall, 112 test results are reported in Fig. 7; they were
obtained from 14 series of tests on clay samples from 11
different sites in the Champlain sea basin (Fig. 1 and
Table 1). The scattering is relatively small for this kind
of data since all the experimental points, except four, are
within ?9% of the average curve. Data by Crawford
(1965), also plotted in Fig. 7, fall within the same range.
All data shown in Figs. 2-7 suggest that the magnitude
of the strain rate effect on IT; decreases with decreasing
strain rate.
This relationship means that, in a first approximation,
the relative effect of strain rate on a; is unique for all
Champlain clays, irrespective of their plasticity, degree
of overconsolidation, sample quality (70 mm diameter
piston sampler and 200 and 300 mm block-type sam-
plers were used to obtain the data shown in Fig. 7), or
testing technique. As pointed out by Mesri and Choi
(1979), such a unique IT;-& relationship is consistent
with the existence of a C,/C, ratio in the order of 0.04 as
 8 10 CAN. GEOTECH J . VOL. 20. 1983

established on a variety of natural clays by Mesri and

Godlewski (1977); this implies that the normalized rela-
tionship shown in Fig. 7 could well apply to clays be-
sides the Champlain clays. This warrants further research.
Comparison between uk from different tests
All conventional and (MSL)24 tests analysed in the
present study are in the strain rate range between 5 x
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s-' and 3 x s-', and a strain rate of lop7 s-'

is considered typical for these tests on Champlain clays.
Since u; variations with i, are small in this range of i,,
a nearly constant ratio should exist between the
preconsolidation pressure obtained from conventional
or (MSL)24tests and those from special tests carried out
at any fixed strain rate. For example, a direct correlation
between,,,,T;( and cr; obtained from CRS tests at
strain rates between 3.5 X and 5 X 1 0 - ~ s - ' was
obtained on clay samples from 16 different sites as
shown in Fig. 8. A relatively good correlation is
observed which corresponds to:

Considering an average strain rate of s-I for the

For personal use only.

conventional oedometer tests and an average value of 4 F R O M C O N V E N T I O N A L TESTS, k P a

x 1 0 - ~ s - ' for the CRS tests, the preconsolidation
pressures ratio deduced from the average curve in Fig. 7 FIG.8. Correlation between the preconsolidation pressures
would be 1.23, which is close to the 1.28 obtained from determined from CRS tests at 3.5 to 5 X s-' and
direct correlation. conventional tests.
The CGT tests were monitored to ensure a constant
strain rates at the moment when a; is measured. The
pore pressure difference Aub between the top and the
SSL test should thus produce high values of a;. Figure
base of the specimen. The strain rate needed to maintain
9 shows a correlation between the preconsolidation
this constant Aub is a function of the compressibility and
pressures obtained from SSL tests and the conventional
permeability of the clay (Wissa et al. 1971); it is thus
or (MSL)24 tests. The scattering of data points is
variable not only during any single test but also,
surprisingly limited and the following linear correlation
depending on the clay properties, between tests. For
is defined:
example, at the passage of the preconsolidation pressure
and for a Aub value of lOkPa, strain rates varying
between 3 X s-I and 3 X lop5 s f ' have been
As for the results of (MSL), tests, the duration of
observed on samples from the various sites. This range
primary consolidation as well as the strain rate at the end
is sufficiently large that it does not seem reasonable to
of primary consolidation vary greatly from one clay to
search for a reliable and simple correlation between
another depending on the permeability and compres-
u ~ , , ~ and
, the preconsolidation pressure obtained in
sibility. As a result, (T; obtained from such tests, while
CGT tests, particularly since the latter is obtained in a
greater than the results of conventional oedometer tests,
range of strain rate where €, effects on u; are
cannot be directly correlated to a; ,,,,.
significant. The anisotropic triaxial test (ATC) is different from
In single stage loading tests (SSL), the preconsolida-
the oedometer tests since the drainage boundaries and
tion pressure is defined locally at the base of the
possibly the stress paths are different; therefore the
specimen and cannot be directly related to the average
preconsolidation pressure obtained in this test may differ
strain rate of the specimen. Moreover, the total stress from oedometer test results. The only way to compare
applied instantaneously to the sample is high and the the test values is thus empirical. Figure 10 shows a
strain rates are certainly not uniform throughout the correlation between values obtained from ATC tests and
specimen. For these reasons, the results of SSL tests those from conventional tests; in spite of some scatter-
cannot be properly analysed and compared with the ing, a reasonable correlation may be defined, corres-
results of Fig. 7. In these tests, however, the time ponding to equation
needed to reach u; at the base of the specimen is short,
usually about 10 min, and one would expect very high
 LEROUEIL ET AL.

I I
For sites a n d symbols, see Table I For sit, and symbols, see Toble
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U
G FROM C O N V E N T I O N A L TESTS, kPa
FIG. 10. Correlation between the preconsolidation pressures
determined from ATC tests and conventional tests.
For personal use only.

Ui FROM C O N V E N T I O N A L TESTS, kPa

consolidation tests. To apply the laboratory preconsoli-
FIG.9. Correlation between the preconsolidation pressures dation pressure to field conditions, a number of factors
determined from SSL tests and conventional tests. must be considered. The factors known to influence
either the laboratory preconsolidation pressure or the
From this study, it appears that the conventional relationship between field and laboratory preconsolida-
oedometer preconsolidation pressure can be,Au tion pressures are the sample quality, the stress path,
correlated to a; values obtained by oedometer tests at which may differ between laboratory and field condi-
other strain rates, or by other techniques. In a very tions, and the strain rate effects.
general form, u~~,,, can be written
lab
Sample disturbance
[61 &on,
-
-- Figure 12 shows results of two typical CRS tests
a2 carried out at the same strain rate on samples taken from
in which refers to the preconsolidation pressure the Berthierville site at the same depth using two
measured using a given laboratory consolidation test different samplers: the 70 mm diameter Geonor piston
technique and a2 is a consolidation test coefficient sampler and the 200 mm diameter Lava1 sampler. The
depending mainly on the strain rate, but also on the type most noticeable difference between the test results is in
of test used. the compressibility of the clay in the overconsolidated
For the CRS, CGT, and (MSL), tests, a? is only a range. For all the oedometer test results obtained in the
function of the strain rate. The experimental data in Fig. present study on Champlain clays, the strain at the
7 was interpreted to obtain the a2coefficient relating a; preconsolidation pressure varies between 2.5 and 4% for
at any strain rate with the result of conventional samples taken with the 70 mm sampler and between 1.4
oedometer tests which correspond to a typical strain rate and 2.5% for samples obtained with the larger 200 and
of 10-' s-'. The a2 vs. €, relationship is shown in Fig. 300 mm samplers.
11. For SSL tests, from available data, a2 would be On the other hand, Fig. 12 shows no significant
equal to 1.6, whereas for ATC tests, or2 would be equal difference in a; between both tests, indicating no
to 1.1. disturbance effect on the preconsolidation pressure of
the samples taken at the depth of 3.8 m. By comparing
Estimation of the in-situ preconsolidation pressure test results on samples taken with a 70 or 75 mm sampler
from laboratory tests and a 200 or 300 sampler, similar conclusions were
Based on the findings reported in Parts I and 11, reached for samples taken at depths less than 5 m at the
reliable prediction of the in-sit14preconsolidation pres- St-Alban site (Leroueil 1977) and at 4 m at the Glouces-
sure may be derived from the results of laboratory ter site (Leroueil et al. 1983).
 CAN. GEOTECH. J. VOL. 20, 1983
Can. Geotech. J. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by McMaster University on 12/22/14
For personal use only.
STRAIN
FIG.11. Variation of the a2coefficient with strain rate.
A more detailed comparison was made at the Ste-
Catherine site where four different samplers were used:
the 200 mm Lava1 sampler, the 75 mm Geonor sampler,
the 70mm modified Geonor sampler, and the 51 mm
Geonor sampler. The a; values obtained from conven-
tional oedometer tests on the different samples are
shown in Fig. 13. When comparing the test results on the
70 and 75mm diameter samples with those on the
200 mm diameter sam~les.it can be seen that at shallow
depths of less than > m the a; values are similar,
indicating no significant disturbance effects on the
preconsolidation pressure at these depths, and confirm-
ing the results obtained at shallow depths on other sites.
At greater depths, however, the preconsolidation pres-
sures obtained on the 70 and 75 mm diameter samples
are lower than those obtained on the 200 mm diameter
samples.
It can also be observed in Fig. 13 that the samples
taken with the 5 1 mm sampler systematically give lower
values of the preconsolidation pressure even at shallow
depths. Such behaviour was also observed at the sites at
Gloucester (Bozozuk 197 l ) , Louiseville (Leblond and
Tavenas 1980), and Batiscan (Bouchard and Tavenas
1981).
sampling disturbance, therefore, has some effect on
the determination of the preconsolidation pressure of
Champlain clays. The coefficient in [l] relating the
in-situ preconsolidation pressure to the conventional
RATE iy
, 5-I
oedometer preconsolidation pressure incorporates the
effect of the degree of disturbance of the tested samples
on laboratory determination of the preconsolidation
pressure. For samples taken with the 70mm piston
sampler, el values are those given in [I]. A different
sampling technique may require different values for the
a l coefficient.
Stress paths
It is well established that the effective stress state at
which a clay is destructured and starts developing large
volumetric strains, referred to as a; or more generally
the "limit state," depends on the effective stress path
followed up to that state. Thus the a; or limit state
condition measured in a given test will be directly
applicable to the design of a particular foundation only if
the effective stress paths in the test and under the
foundation are identical (Tavenas and Leroueil 1977,
1979).
Few data concerning the stress paths followed during
oedometer tests on natural clays are available (Sallfors
1975; Lefebvre and Philibert 1979). They show that the
initial stiffness of the intact overconsolidated clay,
associated with the slight remolding caused at the
periphery of the test specimen when pushed into the
oedometer ring, often results in the development of
small lateral effective stresses and a stress path such as
OA (Fig. 14), in the overconsolidated range. The limit
 LEROUEIL ET AL. 813

VERTICAL E F F E C T I V E STRESS c;, kPa PRECONSOLIDATION PRESSURE Up', k P a

0 40 80 120 160 200 240 280

I I I
I
average ground surface
I !
sample d i a m e t e r
H 2 0 0 mm
&-A 7 5 m m --
Can. Geotech. J. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by McMaster University on 12/22/14

BERTHIERVILLE: depth = 3.8 m

sample taken with Laval University sampler

( 2 0 0 mm i n d i a m e t e r )
For personal use only.

---C R S (4.5 x I O - ~ S - ~ )
sample taken w i t h a 7 0 m m p i s t o n sampler
FIG.12. Effect of sampling d i s t u r b a n c e on t h e stress-strain
c u r v e at t h e B e r t h i e m i l l e site.
state and the preconsolidation pressure are thus reached
at point A, and the KO,, = u;/u; = 1 - sin line
(BC) is followed only in the normally consolidated
range.
Leroueil et al. (19786) have investigated the genera-
tion of pore pressures under embankments. They have
consequently obtained some indications of the type of
effective stress paths followed in clay foundations. In
clays with low OCR the effective stress path generally
appears to be, like IPDE (Fig. 14) under the centre of the
embankment, reaching the limit state at point P, close to
the KO", line. For higher values of the overconsolidation
ratio, say in excess of 2.5, the stress path I'P'D' (Fig.
14) is closer to the isotropic axis, resulting in a lower
limit state at point P'. Thus, with reference to the same
oedometer test results, clays with high OCR should
mobilize lower in-situ uf, values than clays with low
OCR, as is indeed shown in Part I of this paper.
Here again, as in the case of sample disturbance, the
effects of effective stress paths on u; in the laboratory
and in situ cannot be directly measured and are
empirically accounted for in the coefficient al of [ I ] .
Strain rates
The effects of strain rates on the preconsolidation
pressure of the clay have been presented earlier. These
effects were identified only over the range of strain rates
FIG.13. Conventional p r e c o n s o l i d a t i o n p r e s s u r e o f s a m p l e s
t a k e n with d i f f e r e n t sizes o f s a m p l e r s at t h e S t e - C a t h e r i n e site.
which can practically be produced in the laboratory. The
method suggested to account for the strain rate depend-
ency of uf, allows only a comparison of the results of
+' different tests and a transformation of af, measured in
CRS, CGT, or (MSL), tests into reference uf, values
corresponding to the conventional oedometer test.
The effect of strain rates on the in-situ behaviour of
clay cannot be properly assessed at this time. At the
Gloucester site, Leroueil et ril. (1983) compared the
preconsolidation pressure - strain rate relationship
deduced from laboratory tests and in-situ observations.
The results are encouraging but need to be confirmed by
other similar studies. Under these conditions, strain rate
effects must be treated together with other factors
affecting uf,, by empirical correlations between field
and laboratory values of a; as done in Part I.
Derivation of in-situ uJ,
It has been demonstrated that a number of factors have
an influence on the laboratory and field preconsolidation
pressures of Champlain clays. These factors are too
complex to be treated, at this time, by a rigorous
analytical method. Therefore, the estimation of the
in-situ uf,value to use in a specific engineering situation
must, by necessity, be based on an empirical approach.
Such an approach has been developed in Parts I and I1
and can be expressed by combining [ l ] and [6]:
a1
PI u;)in sifu = - uf,lab
a2
 CAN. GEOTECH. J. VOL. 20, 1983

...-a
...-
--@--
OEDOMETER TEST

CLAY FOUNDATION ( L O W OCR )

--@-- CLAY FOUNDATION ( H I G H OCR)

Can. Geotech. J. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by McMaster University on 12/22/14

FIG. 14. Typical stress paths followed in oedometer tests and under the centre of an embankment.
For personal use only.

Type of laboratory test

D e t e r m ~ n a t i o nof u6 l a b

Determination of ui
a 2 functlon of (,
using G
; - (, relat~onship
corresponding to d ~ r e c tempirical dlrect e m p i r ~ c a l
or direct correlation
a 2 = 1.0 correlation correlat~on
ub i n the test
lab a, = 1.10 a 2 = 1.60
u p conv ' - (cf. f i g . l l )
a2
( c f . r i g 10) ( cf. pig. 9 )

I t I I
OCR < 1.2 a, = I I

!
Determination of G{ in s i t u
1.2 < O C R < 2.5 a , = 1.0
f r o m empirical correlation
2.5 < OCR < 4.5 a l = 0.9
Gp in situ = a l up conv valid for a 7 0 m m piston sampler

up in s i t u for design purposes 1, crP i n s l t u : u'p l a b

FIG. 15. Proposed method for the determination of the in-situ preconsolidation pressure of Champlain clays.
 LEROUEIL ET AL.
where a, represents the coefficient relating the in-situ
a; to the laboratory a; obtained from conventional
oedometer tests, and a2 is the empirical coefficient
relating the a; obtained from a special consolidation
test to the a; measured in the conventional oedometer
test. Figure 15 depicts the empirical method proposed to
derive the in-situ preconsolidation pressure from the
results of any type of laboratory consolidation test.
Can. Geotech. J. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by McMaster University on 12/22/14
Conclusions
A series of conventional, MSL, CRS, CGT, SSL, and
ATC consolidation tests was carried out in the labora-
tory on samples from 1 1 different sites of the Champlain
sea basin.
All oedometer test results are consistent and show that
for a given clay at a given depth there is a unique
preconsolidation pressure - strain rate relationship.
These tests on Champlain clays also show that multiple
stage loading tests having a load increment duration of
24 h (conventional or (MSL)24) correspond to a strain
rate which is typically equal to lop7s-'.
All the a;-& relationships obtained in this study can
be normalized independently of the sampling technique
For personal use only.
used. It follows that the conventional preconsolidation
pressure value can be deduced from any special consoli-
dation test by using an empirical coefficient which
relates to the strain rate and eventually to the type of test.
By combining this correlation with the one established
in Part I between the preconsolidation pressure mobi-
lized in situ and the conventional laboratory preconsoli-
dation pressure, it appears possible to empirically
estimate the in-situ preconsolidation pressure from
special consolidation tests.
From a practical point of view, the irz-situ preconsoli-
dation pressure can readily be estimated from conven-
tional or (MSL)24 oedometer tests or, preferably, from
CRS tests. The ATC test could be used but presents no
particular advantage; the CGT and MSL tests could also
be used but the estimation of the in-situ a; is more
complicated as the coefficient must be determined for
each individual test, depending on the strain rate.
Finally, the SSL test must be used with caution since
the a; values obtained are much higher than the in-situ
values and as the coefficient a2 has been established
only on a few sites, more test data would be required.
Acknowledgements
The study presented in this paper was performed in
cooperation with Tenatech, Montreal, and the geotech-
nical section of UniversitC Laval, Quebec.
Part of the research program was carried out by
Terratech as an unsolicited proposal sponsored by the
Division of Building Research of the National Research
Council of Canada and was financed by DBRINRC
and Supply and Services Canada under contract No.
1SX79-00026. The technical support provided by Dr.
815
M. Bozozuk, who was scientific authority for the
contract, is gratefully acknowledged. The assistance of
J. P. Le Bihan in performing the laboratory tests is
greatly appreciated.
The work carried out at UniversitC Laval was support-
ed by grants from the Ministries of Transport and
Education of Qutbec and from the National Sciences
and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The
contribution of R. Bouchard, D. Leahy, and P. Leblond,
who performed the laboratory tests as a prerequisite to
their M.Sc. theses, is gratefully acknowledged.
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