Analysis of consolidation processing of piezocone penetration test in cutoff wall

Abstract

The piezocone penetration test (CPTU) is now widely used as an efficient and economical in-situ geotechnical investigation technology. The CPTU not only can provide the data of conventional cone penetration test (CPT), but also give a continuous profile of pore pressure. Furthermore, when the piezocone is halted in soil with a specific depth, the excess pore pressure produced by penetration will be dissipated until the value of zero. This paper investigates the consolidation processing after the piezocone is penetrated into soil-bentonite cutoff wall in a landfill site, China. A finite-element procedure is also used for simulating the consolidating processing of soil-bentonite backfills. The coefficient of consolidation and hydraulic conductivity of soil-bentonite backfills can be evaluated from the consolidation processing of excess pore pressure. The paper gives the necessity and importance of simulation of consolidation processing by finite-element procedure.