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PRACTICAL ASPECTS REGARDING THE BEHAVIOUR OF SENSITIVE AND SOFT PLASTIC CLAYS IN ENGINEERING WORKS

Mustatea Sebastian

Abstract

Lately, in our country, the necessity of expanding the transport infrastructure works has led to the necessity of designing and executing engineering constructions in areas with lands considered difficult in terms of physical and mechanical characteristics. According to the Romanian and European norms, sensitive clay of low consistency is included in the category of difficult land. This paper presents the main research stages of the physico-mechanical properties of sensitive clays found on a section of a highway in Romania, between Sebes and Turda. During the field investigation phase, electrometric tests (ERI = Electrical Resistivity Images) were performed for geological mapping and geotechnical drilling, respectively, for the identification of site-specific lithology. The phenomenon of thixotropy, as well as the factors that influence it in the case of the clay studied, were analyzed. Laboratory tests were carried out to determine the chemical-mineralogical composition and, respectively, to determine the shear resistance parameters, under unconditioned-uncontracted conditions. The obtained results are presented, and their interpretation has been made through the analysis of the general stability conditions. Taking into account the results of the integrated research performed, the paper presents conclusions useful to the designer for avoiding the instability phenomena and for improving the bearing capacity of the foundation ground.

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