Algumas propriedades físico-químicas e de engenharia de uma argila orgânica do Recife.

Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation was to study some physico-chemical and engineering properties of an "organic clay" which forms part of the soil profile underlying the city of Recife. Undisturbed specimens were recovered from the subsoil by the use of seamless, thin walled steel tubes known as "Shelby type tubes". Results during the laboratory testing programme were obtained from specimens recovered at 1 m intervals along the depth of the organic clay strata. Field moisture content, Atterberg limits, grain size distribution, specific gravity, specific surface, pH, minera1ogica1 analysis, consolidation and unconsolidated undrained triaxiol tests allowed not only the study of the soil as a function of depth but its characterization as well. The study shows that the homogeneity and uniformity of the "organic clay" is probably a function of the variation of organic matter content.- The soil is characterized as a: "soft organic clay with traces of highly divided inactive organic matter, exhibiting high plasticity, composed predominantly of kaolinite cl y mineral, normally consolidated and of low sensitivity". Linear regression analysis was used to explore possible correlations between the values of the different tests carried out. It is shown that, within the limitations of the study, statistical relations do exist between the parameters measured. It is proposed that these correlations may be used for preliminary evaluation of the engineering properties of the soil studied.