Influence of Settling Behavior of Soil Particles on the Consolidation Properties of Dredged Clay Sediment

Abstract

Placement of dredged spoils in a slurry form and allowing self-weight consolidation is common in land reclamation works carried out adjacent to water bodies. The influence of the settling behavior of soil particles in clay-water slurry on the homogeneity and consolidation properties of the final sediment were assessed in the current study. Standard one-dimensional and radial consolidation tests were conducted on Port of Brisbane dredged mud, which was remolded at various water contents and salt concentrations and reconstituted. Particle-size distribution curves show the various degrees of segregation that occurred during settlement of soil particles in flocculated and dispersed slurry, prepared and placed in saltwater and freshwater environments, respectively. The vertical and horizontal consolidation coefficients (