Case study on long-term ground settlement of reclamation project on clay deposits in Nansha of China

Abstract

In the design of reclamation, long-term settlement is seriously concerned. This paper presents a case study on the ground settlement of a reclamation project in Nansha, China. Fourteen undisturbed soil samples were taken at different depths from this site. Both oedometer tests on fourteen specimens and triaxial hydraulic conductivity tests on nine specimens were conducted. Finite element (FE) modelings using soft soil creep (SSC) model or soft soil (SS) model for modeling clayey soils with or without creep and the calculation using a new simplified method were performed to analyze the consolidation settlement of clay deposits subjected to filled loadings. The FE simulated results and calculated results from the new simplified method were compared with the monitored data in the field. Results show that the curves of the FE modeling using SSC model and the calculation from new simplified method have the same trends as those of the measured settlements. The creep contributes to excess pore pressure dissipation during the consolidation. Furthermore, ground settlements of the reclamation are predicted with the aid of the FE and new simplified method analysis. These predictions can provide the essential information for engineers to control or reduce the settlement in future.

Keywords:

• Ground settlement
• creep
• cone penetration tests
• Nansha clay

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work in this paper is supported by a CRF project (Grant No.: PolyU 12/CRF/13E) from Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) of China, two GRF projects (PolyU 152196/14E; PolyU 152796/16E) from RGC of HKSARG of China. The authors also acknowledge the financial supports from Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, grants (1-ZVCR, 1-ZVEH, 4-BCAU, 4-BCAW, 5-ZDAF, G-YN97) from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.