Undrained Shear Strength and In Situ Horizontal Effective Stress from Piezocone Penetration Test Measurements in Clayey Soils: New Approach

Abstract

In this study, first the numerical modeling of the piezocone penetration test (CPTu) is performed. Then the obtained results are used to achieve a reliable solution for determining the undrained shear strength and in situ horizontal effective stress in cohesive soils according to the piezocone measurements. The presented solution results in three main relationships that must be used in a trial-and-error process to obtain the previously mentioned parameters. The proposed equations are then compared with the laboratory piezocone tests and well-known published field measurements. The comparisons indicate an acceptable degree of accuracy for predicting the undrained shear strength and in situ horizontal effective stress from the cone tip resistance and induced pore-water pressure at the cone shoulder, which are measured during a piezocone test.