Geotechnical Investigations at the Dalian Offshore Airport, China

Abstract

Based on the geotechnical investigation data of artificial island at Dalian Offshore Airport, the spatial distribution of the physical and mechanical properties of deposit soils was statistically analyzed. The field investigation revealed that the deposit soils could be subdivided into three strata, i.e., the top marine deposit stratum, middle marine-continental deposit stratum, and deep continental deposit stratum. Field and laboratory test results demonstrated that the marine deposit soils had high water content (31.2% < wn < 63.10%), large void ratio (0.88 < e0 < 1.75), low permeability (kv < 10−6 cm/s), flow-plastic state (IL > 1), under consolidated (OCR < 1), high compressibility (Es < 4 MPa), low shear strength (11.7 kPa < cu < 43.7 kPa), and low bearing capacity (0 < fak < 120 kPa), they could not be used as natural foundation. The marine-continental and continental deposits were normally consolidated to over-consolidated (OCR ≥ 1), medium compressibility (4 MPa < Es < 20 MPa), high shear strength (29.7 kPa < cu < 73.7 kPa), and high bearing capacity (fak > 120 kPa). In addition, regression analysis results showed that the compression ratio was positively correlated with the natural water content, the coefficient of vertical consolidation was negatively correlated with the plasticity index, and the coefficient of vertical permeability was positively correlated with the initial void ratio. The results of the field and laboratory tests were synthesized to provide a basis for reclamation design.