Laboratory tests to estimate strength profile of normally consolidated kaolinite

One of the major design parameters for offshore foundations is shear strength of the soil. But it is this parameter that has the greatest uncertainty. In this study different types of in-situ laboratory strength tests were run in normally consolidated kaolinite test beds to study the relations between the shear strengths obtained from the different type of tests and to help in deciding which is the correct shear strength to be used in the design of the offshore foundations. The different shear strength tests included vane shear tests, cone penetration tests, T-bar penetration tests and ball penetration tests. The results of the strength tests are compared and an average shear strength profile is given for the test bed of normally consolidated kaolinite