Interrelationship between sediment fabric, pore volume variations as indicator for pore pressure changes, and sediment shear strength

Abstract

The physical characterization of sediments forms the basis for slope stability analysis. The shear strength of water-saturated sediments is a function of sediment properties and pore pressure conditions. A reduction in strength, e.g., as a result of transient pore pressure changes, can cause the collapse of the sediment matrix and subsequently slope sediment fails. As failure processes in the sediment elude from direct observation, matrix deformation processes, sediment grain interactions, and the associated stresses can be examined by numerical simulations. The major aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of varied sediment fabric on pore volume changes and sediment strength in sheared samples. For all sediment fabrics, an inversely proportional relationship between strength and porosity was observed. A controlling effect of grain shape on the maximum friction coefficient value was demonstrated.