Engineering geology of soft clay

Abstract

This chapter describes the depositional environments and the morphology of soft clay deposits within those environments. It provides guidance on the development of appropriately detailed engineering geological models for soft ground engineering and focuses on the practical steps required to develop a model that is adequate for engineering analysis and design. Soft clay deposits are often seen, and therefore considered, as a continuum with characteristics that can be defined by field or laboratory tests, and performance, in terms of strength and compressibility that can be defined by those tests. However, variability in strength and compressibility throughout any specific soft clay deposit is likely to be significant. Most soft clay soils are deposited in estuarine channels or certain parts of the near-shore environment. Understanding of the shape and variability of soft clay deposits can be achieved through the development of an engineering geological model that is developed throughout the design process and guides investigation and analysis.