2nd International Symposium on Cone Penetration Testing, Huntington Beach, CA, USA, May 2010

Post earthquake shear strengths of clay by CPT and vane

testing methods at Scoggins Dam
J.A. Farrar
U S Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, USA

ABSTRACT: Investigations where performed at Scoggins Dam in Northwest Oregon

to evaluate increased earthquake loadings predicted on the Cascadia subduction zone.
Earthquake events of magnitude 9.0 are now predicted with accelerations exceeding 1
g and durations of over one minute. The foundation of the dam is mostly clay soils
and cyclic failure of the clays must be considered. Investigations consisted of Cone
Penetration Tests (CPT), Vane Shear Tests (VST), and laboratory tests. The post
earthquake strength of clay is a remolded strength. Laboratory cyclic tests with post
monotonic loading have difficulty determining post earthquake shear strengths due to
strain limitations. Field tests such as VST and CPT can provide remolded strength
data in clays. This paper shows comparisons of sleeve friction data from CPT and
remolded strengths from VST tests in stiff clays. The remolded shear strengths from
the CPT sleeve friction and VST where very comparable. The results indicate that
CPT sleeve friction can provide an estimate of post earthquake shear strengths which
can be supplemented with fewer, more costly, VST testing.

1 INTRODUCTION

Scoggins Dam is located on Scoggins Creek, a tributary to the Tualatin River, about 5.5
miles southwest of Forest Grove, Oregon. The embankment dam is approximately 36m
(120 ft) tall and has two cutoff trenches. The foundation is primarily clay soils believed
to be deposited as outwash from the ancient lake Missoula flood event. The clay soils
have moderate PI ranging from 13 to 30 percent, are inorganic, and are not varved.

New earthquake loadings from the Cascadia subduction zone predict an earthquake of
magnitude 9.0 with accelerations exceeding 1g and durations of over one minute.
Based on the new loadings, Reclamation (USBR) performed investigations to evaluate
seismic stability. Under these high loadings cyclic failure of the clay foundation soils
need to be evaluated. Investigations included cone penetration test (CPT) and field
vane shear test (VST), Standard Penetration Tests (SPT), and 125 mm (5 inch) thin
walled undisturbed sampling.

Twenty nine CPT soundings were performed at Scoggins Dam. A line of CPT’s were
performed along the toe. CPT 08-1 through -15 extend along the toe with CPT 08-15
towards the right abutment. Three CPT’s where located on the drainage berm which is a
5:1 slope with overlying compacted embankment about 6 to 9 m thick.
   2nd International Symposium on Cone Penetration Testing, Huntington Beach, CA, USA, May 2010

Eight VST holes were performed at Scoggins dam. Four holes were located at the toe
of the slope (DH-08-17, -18, -19 and -20) and four were located on the slope transition
at the mid-slope of the 5:1 drainage berm (DH08-14, -15, -16 and -21).

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the dam and the locations of cross sections. Cross sec-
tion A-A is near the right abutment (looking downstream). Cross section C-C is located
in the middle of the dam and section D-D on the left side of the dam. Pre-construction
investigations had indicated weaker clay strengths towards the right abutment. Also,
seepage along the right abutment contact has been observed.

Figure 1 Plan view of Scoggins Dam

2 TEST PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT

CPTs were performed in accordance with ASTM standard D-5778-95. The CPT equip-
ment was manufactured by Vertek/Applied Research Associates, Inc. in 2006. The
cone equipment is a digital Electronic Field Computer System (EFCS4) originally man-
ufactured Hogentogler (now Vertek). All cones used were 100 kN (10 ton) subtraction
piezocones.

VSTs were performed in accordance with ASTM procedure D 2573. VST was carried
out using a Nilcon M-1000 Vane Borer. This mechanical vane system has low area ra-
tio vanes with friction slip coupling. The vane shear torque head was calibrated by the
vendor (Roctest) after the testing was completed.
   2nd International Symposium on Cone Penetration Testing, Huntington Beach, CA, USA, May 2010

Vane testing was performed using two drill rigs. The first VSTs were carried out using
an Ingersoll Rand T3 drill with 150mm casing. The casing was advanced by fluid rota-
ry drill and drive method. A CME 45 drill with 107 mm inside diameter hollow-stem
auger was used on some holes. The general, procedures for the VST consisted of test-
ing in 0.5m increments below the casing. After the test at 0.5m below the casing the
vane was pushed an additional 0.5m for the next test. The vane was pressed for 6 tests
ahead of the casing. Then the borehole was advanced another 2.75 m and testing was
repeated. CPT data were not used to target the test depths.

3 FIELD TEST RESULTS

Table 1 summarizes peak undrained shear strength (su), undrained strength ratio (su/v’)
and overconsolidation ratio (OCR) for the clay layers estimated from the CPT. The in-
terpretations were performed using the program CPeT-IT (Geologismiki,
www.geologismiki.gr). This program performs engineering interpretations in accor-
dance with the procedures outlined by Lunne, Robertson and Powell (1997). An Nkt
factor of 15 was used to estimate the peak undrained strength of the clays. The program
can also estimate properties over a thickness of clay and include statistical data.

Table 1 - Summary of clay layer strengths, based on CPT

Sucpt (kPa, Nkt = 15)
Undrained Strength

Undrained Strength
Sounding Number

Clay Layer Depth

Overconsolidation
Ratio, Sucpt/’v'
Cross Section

Ratio - OCR
Interval - m

Comments
CPT

Section DD left side of dam

2 D-D 2.4 to 7.3 98 1.44 11.3 Toe
3 D-D 1.8 to 5.5 86 1.96 15 Toe
26 D-D 6.4 to 10.4 77 0.6 3.91 Berm
Section CC middle of dam
7 C-C 2.4 to 5.5 77 1.56 12 Toe
7 C-C 6.4 to 9.1 74 0.85 6.05 Toe
24 C-C 7.9 to 10.3 73 0.47 2.92 Berm
Section AA right side of dam
14 A-A 2.4 to 6.1 50 0.85 6.2 Toe
15 A-A 2.4 to 10.4 47 0.6 4.12 Toe
25A A-A 10.7 to 16.8 57 0.28 1.54 Berm

Data on Table 1 show that clays are stronger toward the left side of the dam and weaker
near section AA. Note that, at the berm locations, where berm thickness is 6m to 9m,
the undrained strength ratio and degree of OCR values are reduced due to the weight of
the compacted fill.
   2nd International Symposium on Cone Penetration Testing, Huntington Beach, CA, USA, May 2010

Figure 2, shows CPT and VST peak strengths for berm and toe locations on sections A-
A, plotted versus elevation. The results of these comparisons indicate that the VST
peak strengths consistently exceed the CPT predicted strengths. This is not unusual in
stiff clays. The vane tests a large area and therefore includes macroscopic effects such
as possible thin drainage paths. It is common practice in geotechnical engineering to
correct vane shear strengths downward for stability analysis. This practice started with
Bjerrum’s review of case history failures in clay (Bjerrum, 1972) and continues today.

Figure 2 - Summary of peak strengths for section A-A

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show remolded strengths from the VST and CPT sleeve friction plot-
ted versus elevation for berm and toe locations for cross section A-A, C-C, and D-D.
VST remolded strengths were performed at 360 degree and 1080 degrees (5 revolu-
tions). The data show that the remolded strengths from the VST are very similar to the
sleeve friction values measured from CPT.
   2nd International Symposium on Cone Penetration Testing, Huntington Beach, CA, USA, May 2010

Figure 3 Summary of remolded strengths for Section A-A

Figure 4 Summary of remolded strengths for Section C-C

   2nd International Symposium on Cone Penetration Testing, Huntington Beach, CA, USA, May 2010

Figure 5 – Summary of remolded strengths for Section D-D

4 CONCLUSIONS

Investigations performed for evaluation of seismic stability at Scoggins dam included

Vane Shear (VST) and Cone Penetration Testing (CPT). Under extreme seismic load-
ings the clay layers under the dam may yield and undergo “Cyclic Failure.” The re-
molded strength of the clay layers is important to evaluate earthquake stability. The in-
vestigations also included laboratory cyclic tests with post cyclic monotonic loading.
However, the laboratory data are limited by strain limitations.

Field tests using VST and CPT methods can provide large strain remolded strengths
suitable for post earthquake stability analysis for clays. Test results at this site in stiff
clays showed that the sleeve friction values from CPT are equivalent to VST remolded
strengths. The results show that CPT sleeve friction can be used for accurate prediction
of remolded shear strength.

5 REFERENCES

ASTM D-5778-07 - The Method for Performing Electronic Friction Cone and Piezo-Cone Penetration
Testing of Soils, Annual Book of Standards, Volume 04.08, American Society for Testing and Mate-
rials, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM D-2573-01 - The Method for Field Vane Shear Testing in Cohesive Soils, Annual Book of Stan-
dards, Volume 04.08, American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA.
   2nd International Symposium on Cone Penetration Testing, Huntington Beach, CA, USA, May 2010

Vane Shear Strength Testing in Soils - Field and Laboratory Studies, 1987, A. Richardson, editor, ASTM
special technical publication STP - 1014, American Society for Testing and Materials, West Consho-
hocken, PA.
John Ioannides, 2007, CPeT-IT version 1.6.0.30, 2007, Geologismiki, www.geolgismiki.gr Greece.
Lunne, T., Robertson, P.K. and Powell, J.J.M., 1997, Cone Penetration Testing in Geotechnical Practice,
Blackie Academic and Professional, Chapman Hall, New York.
Bjerrum, L., 1972, “Embankments on Soft Ground,” Proceedings ASCE Specialty Conference on Per-
formance of Earth and earth Supported Structures, Vol. 2. Purdue University, Lafayette, IN, 1972,
pp 1-54.