Centrifugal Model Test of Pore Water Pressure in Soft Clay

Abstract

Practice shows that the pore water pressure in soft clay is not often equal to the results given by the theoretical formula. The effects of buried depth on the pore water pressure in sand and remolded soft clay are analyzed through the centrifugal model tests. The results indicate that the pore water pressure in sand is equal to the hydrostatic pressure while the pore water pressure in soft clay is smaller than the theoretical value significantly. The pore water pressure in soft clay can be revised by the reduction coefficient that is related with the buried depth. The reduction coefficient of the pore water pressure in soft clay varies with depth until it is stable at 0.68 with depth of more than 10 m. Anti-floating design of underground should consider the reduction efficient of the pore water pressure in soft clay.