Study on the applicability of the strip probe in detecting the strength of soft clay

ABSTRACT

As ocean engineering has developed towards the deep sea, a precise instrument is urgently needed to accurately measure the in situ strength of soft clay at the shallow strata of the deep sea and thus to evaluate the bearing capacity of the foundation. In this paper, a new type of probe – the strip probe – is introduced. The soft clay failure modes, including the shallow penetration and deep penetration of the strip probe, were analysed by a centrifugal model test and the mesh-to-mesh solution mapping (MMSM) finite element method. Based on limit analysis, the upper-bound solutions between the soft clay strength and the strip probe penetration resistance were established under non-full-flow and full-flow modes. Through an in site penetration test, the upper-bound solutions were proven rational, and the strip probe was appropriate for detecting the strength of abyssal soft clay.

KEYWORDS:

• Strip probe
• centrifugal model test
• failure modes of soft clay
• limit analysis
• undrained shear strength

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful for the support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 51679162]; the Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 51709199]; Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia [grant number 51709199].