Inherent and CPTu-measured Scale of Fluctuation of Undrained Geomaterials: a Numerical Perspective

Abstract

The vertical scale of fluctuation of soil parameters is often indirectly estimated through Cone Penetration Testing (CPTu) as the test provides nearly continuous and repeatable data. However, the variability quantified from CPTu might not be representative of a soil parameter intra-site variability, but rather the effect of the variability of soil measured through its response to the cone probe. The objective of this work -of an openly prospective nature- is to examine how the vertical inherent spatial variability of clay-like insensitive geomaterials propagates to the cone tip and friction sleeve resistance by means of numerical modelling. A total stress analysis is presented, in which the undrained shear strength is described according to random field theory. Numerical results show that the scale of fluctuation of the tip resistance and friction sleeve resistance is greater than the one assumed for undrained shear strength.

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