Stress-dependent consolidation characteristics of marine clay in the Northern Arabian Gulf

The main objective of this paper is to study the variation of the coefficient of consolidation (Cv) with stress level for the marine clay in the Northern Arabian Gulf. Undisturbed samples were collected from three sites and laboratory-tested using the conventional Oedometer test. The variation of permeability with applied stress was expressed in terms of the Permeability Change Index. The Coefficient of Consolidation Change Index was introduced as a new parameter to quantify the change in Cv with stress level. Region-specific correlations were developed between these two indices and the Liquid Limit. The uncertainty in these correlations was quantified using statistical techniques and was found to be higher in the case of Cv. Accordingly, risk-based correction factors were introduced based on the target probability of unsatisfactory performance. Finally, a simplified methodology was proposed to estimate the stress-dependent Cv in the absence of site-specific consolidation tests.