| Constant rate strain (CRS) consolidation test has been widely used in geotechnical engineering after a theory was developed by A. E. Z. Wissa and collogues for evaluating the CRS consolidation parameters and is standardized by ASTM in D4186. CRS consolidation testing was selected in order to determine the consolidation properties of Lake Bonneville clay for this dissertation because of its advantages over the incremental loading (IL) consolidation test.; There is an ongoing disagreement about determining the reliable strain rate for conducting the CRS consolidation test. The necessity of a new generalized procedure to calculate the proper strain rate was realized after reviewing the current methods for determining the strain rate.; A new general empirical method to calculate the proper strain rate was developed herein. The new method is tested for the Lake Bonneville Clay, Mesena Clay, kaolinite and montmorillonite. Comparisons of the applied strain rates and those calculated from the new general method show that the new method provides a reliable strain rate for conducting the CRS consolidation test.; This dissertation also evaluates in-situ techniques [e.g., cane penetrometer (CPT), dilatometer (DMT), and the vane shear test (VST)] for estimating the compressibility and shear strength properties (determined by CRS consolidation test results) of the Lake Bonneville sediments. |
