Soft Sediments: Wave-based Characterization

Abstract

Soft sediments are frequently encountered in geotechnical practice, forming natural deposits or manmade mixtures. These high water content soil–water mixtures involve soils with high specific surface and experience relatively low effective stresses, hence the role of electrical interparticle forces is enhanced and nonstandard soil-like behavior may be observed. Testing such materials presents some unique challenges not faced in soils with a stronger granular skeleton. This experimental study of soft sediments involves kaolinite–electrolyte mixtures. Two test sets are conducted. The first one involves index tests and the second set of tests explores the combined utilization of elastic and electromagnetic waves to assess soft sediments and to monitor their evolution. The kaolinite mixtures tested in both sets of measurements were prepared using fluids of different ionic concentrations to create different soil fabrics. The mixtures change behavior when the ionic concentration of NaCl exceeds