Geotechnical Characterization of Alluvial Soil in Çiğli - Balatçık Region

Abstract

The alluvial deposits have high vertical deformation, low bearing capacity and shear strength because of their organic matter content and high void ratio. Therefore, for the project designed on the alluvial deposit, it is necessary to determine the geotechnical engineering properties in detail. In this study, physicochemical engineering properties and compressibility behavior of the alluvial soil taken from Çiğli - Balatçık in İzmir were examined. Alluvial soil samples were taken from each 1.5 m depth for 30 m. Wet sieve analysis, fall cone penetration, plastic limit, pH, specific gravity, organic matter content and one-dimensional consolidation tests were conducted to determine geotechnical index properties and compressibility parameters of alluvial samples. The specific gravities varied between 2.62 and 2.83 and the liquid limit values were ranged between 21.8 – 66.5%. The sieve analysis and consistency limits tests results were evaluated according to USCS, it was determined that the soil contains large amounts of low plasticity silt and low plasticity clay (ML and CL). The pH value ranged between 7.65 and 8.76. The results of one dimensional consolidation tests showed that, compressibility indices and swelling indices were range between 0.268 – 0.490 and 0.058 – 0.158, respectively.