Geotechnical Characterization of Desiccated Clay

Abstract

Conventional testing procedures produce scatter and bias in indicated properties of soils, such as desiccated clays. This paper describes and compares several conventional and nonconventional methods for characterizing the engineering properties of such soils at a site in Houston, Texas. Properties considered include undrained shear strength, stress‐deformation moduli, earth pressure coefficients, and compression indexes. Similarities and differences between soil preconsolidated by desiccation and by stress removal are noted.