Mobilized Shear Strength of Overconsolidated Seattle Clays

Abstract

The drained shear strength of overconsolidated glaciolacustrine clays in the Seattle area can range from the overconsolidated peak to residual strength depending on its geologic history, depth, softening, prior shear displacements, size of excavation, and application, e.g., long-term cut slope versus short-term braced excavation. An inverse analysis of slope failures shows the mobilized shear strength for cut slopes in the overconsolidated and sparsely jointed Qvgl glaciolacustrine clay ranges from the fully softened strength to in between fully softened and residual strength depending on the level of jointing, prior shear displacements, assumed piezometric levels, and Atterberg limits used in the analysis. Conversely, an inverse analysis of a 2011 slope failure in the frequently jointed and random slickensided overconsolidated Qpgl glaciolacustrine clay shows the mobilized shear strength for this deposit near residual to in between residual and fully softened strengths because of repeated glaciation cycles, softening, and local shear displacements due to glacial bulldozing, solifluction, and high lateral stresses.