Geotechnical Characterization and Development of Correlations for Artificial Island near Dubai

ABSTRACT: Most artificial islands near Dubai were constructed with fill material and dynamically compacted. Their present geotechnical properties have to be evaluated by extensive field and laboratory testing as large development projects are being proposed. The main focus of this study is to provide correlations between Standard Penetration Test values (SPT-N), Cone Penetration Test findings (CPT), and shear wave velocity (Vs) measurements for the compacted fills. More than fifty (50) SPT and similar number of CPT tests are performed on a large area of the island. A series of Multi-Channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) tests are conducted to measure the distribution of Vs with depth. The data is analyzed to develop correlations between SPT and CPT and between Vs and SPT. The correlation between SPT and CPT generally does not agree with the correlations for coarse grained soils suggested in the literature. The correlations for Vs as function of SPT; however, predicts larger values of Vs compared to Vs values predicted by correlation from the literature. All result indicate the inadequacy of prior compaction.

RÉSUMÉ: Plus de cinquante (50) tests SPT et un nombre similaire de tests CPT sont effectués sur une grande partie de l'île. Une série de tests d'analyse multicanal des ondes de surface (MASW) sont menées pour mesurer la distribution des V avec la profondeur. Les données sont analysées pour développer des corrélations entre SPT et CPT et entre Vs et SPT. La corrélation entre SPT et CPT ne concorde généralement pas avec les corrélations pour les sols à gros grains suggérées dans la littérature. Les corrélations pour Vs en fonction de SPT; cependant, prédit des valeurs de Vs plus élevées par rapport aux valeurs de Vs prédites par corrélation à partir de la littérature. Tous les résultats indiquent l'insuffisance du compactage préalable.