Date of Award

January 2016

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Civil Engineering

First Advisor

Antonio Bobet

Second Advisor

Maria C Santagata

Committee Member 1

DARRYL GRANGER

Committee Member 2

JOSEPH V SINFIELD

Committee Member 3

DARREL G SCHULZE

Abstract

Soft, carbonate-rich, fine-grained soils are commonly found in the glaciated regions of the northern United States and throughout Canada. In addition to the high compressibility potential and low shear strength, these sediments are typically characterized by alternating layers of silts and clays as well as high calcium carbonate content. The unique properties of these deposits make them challenging soils for geotechnical engineers. Despite the prevalence of soft carbonatic soils in Indiana and the concerns associated with their behavior, very limited work has been done to study their engineering properties. This was the motivation for the research, which is founded on an in-depth characterization of a glaciolacustrine carbonatic fine-grained soil deposit formed about 22,000 calendar years ago in the southwestern part of the State of Indiana, USA. The aim of the investigation was the developing of improved knowledge of the behavior of carbonatic fine-grained soils.

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