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Engineering Properties of Volcanic Soils

Propriétés mécaniques des sols volcaniques

by F. P e n t a , P rof. Ing., D ire c to r o f th e Istitu to di G eo lo g ia A p p lic ata , F ac. d ’in g e g n eria, U n iv ersità di R o m a. V ia
E u d o ssia n a, 18 (S. P ietro in V incoli). R o m a,
A . C r o c e , P rof. Ing., D ire c to r o f the Istitu to di T ecn ica delle F o n d a z io n i e C o stru z io n i in T e rra , U n iv ersità di N ap o li,
V ia M ezzo can n o n e, 16. N ap o li,
an d
F. E su , D o tt. In g ., A ssistan t p ro fe sso r o f the Istitu to di G eo lo g ia A p p lic ata , F ac. d ’in g eg n eria. U n iv ersità di R o m a
V ia E u d o ssia n a, 18 (S. P ietro in V incoli). R o m a

Summary
T h e a u th o rs sta te th a t the science o f Soil M echanics c a n n o t
alw ays be applied as such to soils th a t differ fro m sedim ents,
like those o f volcanic origin.
V olcanic soils are m ade u p o f u n altered p ro d u c ts ejected by
volcanoes o f m ixed ty p e like m o st o f th e Ita lia n ones. T hese soils
a re accu m u lated n e ar volcanic centres a n d th ey fo rm thick
deposits o f vario u s shapes. D u e to their origin m an y o f the
grains h a v e a glassy a n d sp o n g y tex tu re (pum ice a n d ashes).
T h e g rain size d istrib u tio n s o f som e volcanic soils, m ainly
com posed o f grains o f the sam e type, are given b y the au th o rs.
T h e p o ro sity o f volcanic soils is very high because the
particles a re p o ro u s. O edom etric c o n so lid a tio n tests show th a t
— decreases w ith the increasing o f the initial void ra tio e0,
Cc
a n d th a t the se c o n d ary tim e effect is very p ro n o u n c ed . T his
b e h av io u r a p p ea rs to be related to the brittleness o f the particles.
T h e com pressive stren g th m easured by tria x ial a p p a ra tu s
does n o t v a ry w hen the c o nditions o f the tests o r the m o istu re
con ten ts are varied, p rovided th a t the void ra tio is c o n stan t.
Sommaire
Les a u te u rs é ta b lisse n t q u e la M écanique des Sols ne peut
pas être a p p liq u é e d a n s to u s les cas à des sols différents des sédi­
m ents, com m e les p ro d u its pyroclastiques.
Les sols v olcaniques so n t constitués p a r les p ro d u its non altérés
rejetés p a r les volcans m ixtes com m e il arriv e p o u r la p lu p art
des volcans italiens. Les sols en question, accum ulés près de
centres volcaniques, c o n stitu e n t des dépôts très épais de form es
diverses.
A cause de leur origine, ces sols so n t form és p a r aes grains
à te x tu re vitreuse et spongieuse (com m e, p a r ex., les cendres
et les ponces).
Les a u te u rs d o n n e n t les g ranulom étries des sols constitués
p o u r la p lu p a rt p a r des grains d ’un seul type. L a po ro sité des
sols v o lcaniques est très élevée parce que les grains so n t eux-m êm es
poreux. Les essais œ dom étriques d é m o n tren t que — dim inue
Ce
en m êm e tem ps que l’indice des vides initial et que l’effet secondaire
est très im p o rta n t. Ce c o m p o rtem e n t dépend p ro b a b le m e n t de
la fragilité des grains. La résistance à la com pression dan s les
essais tria x ia u x n ’est m odifié ni p a r le changem ent des c onditions
d ’essai ni p a r la v ariatio n de la ten e u r en eau, p o u rv u que la
po ro sité reste constante.

Introduction
T h e th e o rie s a n d a p p lic a tio n s o f S o il M e c h a n ic s m a in ly T h e s e so ils a re fa irly w id e sp re a d in Ita ly . T h e y c o v e r
a b o u t 4 to 5 p e r c e n t o f th e c o u n tr y a n d th e y a re fo u n d in la rg e
d e a l w ith th e c h a ra c te ris tic s a n d th e b e h a v io u r o f se d im e n ­
a re a s in th e r e g io n s o f L a tiu m a n d C a m p a n ia (F ig . 1). A p a r t
ta r y so ils. S e d im e n ts, h o w e v e r, re p re s e n t o n ly o n e o f th e ty p e s
o f so il fo u n d in n a tu r e , a s c a n b e se e n in T a b le 1. f ro m b e in g u s e d in im p o r ta n t e n g in e e rin g w o rk s th e y a re
S oils o f volcanic a n d metamorphic o rig in s a r e w id e sp re a d th e so ils u p o n w h ic h th e c itie s o f R o m e a n d N a p le s a r e b u ilt.
in m a n y re g io n s th r o u g h o u t Ita ly . F e w s tu d ie s h a v e b e e n m a d e , u s in g th e m e th o d s o f S oil
M e c h a n ic s , w h ic h d e a l w ith th e c h a ra c te ris tic s o f v o lc a n ic
T h e a p p lic a tio n o f th e sc ien c e o f S o il M e c h a n ic s to th e se
so ils a s a r a w m a te ria l f o r e n g in e e rin g p u rp o s e s o r a s m a te r ­
soils is n o t a lw a y s p e rm iss ib le b e c a u se th e ir p r o p e rtie s a n d
ials fo r e a r th c o n s tr u c tio n s lik e d a m s.
c h a ra c te ris tic s differ fro m th o s e o f c o h e s iv e a n d c o h e s io n le s s
se d im e n ts th a t h a v e e q u a l g ra in size d is tr ib u tio n . T h e a u th o r s c o n s id e r th e p r o d u c ts o f v o lc a n ic a c tiv ity in
th e Q u a te r n a r y a n d R e c e n t E ra s , a n d in p a r tic u la r th e u n a l­
T h e a u th o r s c o n fin e th e m se lv e s to so ils o f v o lc a n ic o rig in .
te re d m a te ria ls th a t h a v e n o t u n d e r g o n e e x o g e n ic o r e n d o g e n ic
T h o se o f m e ta m o r p h ic o rig in w ill b e d e a lt w ith in s u b s e q u e n t
p a p e r s [ 1]. a lte ra tio n s . F r o m th is p o in t o f view th e se so ils d iffer fro m
so ils o f v o lc a n ic o rig in s th a t a re re fe rre d to in th e lite ra tu re
Genesis and geological characteristics of volcanic soils [3, 4],
T h e s e v o lc a n ic soils a re fo rm e d b y th e p r o d u c ts o f v o lc a ­
T h e te rm soils o f volcanic origin re fe rs to c o h e s io n le s s o r n o e s o f m ix e d ty p e (i. e ., v o lc a n o e s w h ic h a lte rn a te e x p lo ­
se m i-c o h e siv e m a te ria ls th a t a re d e sig n a te d a s loose volcanic siv e p h a se s w ith p h a se s o f e ffu s io n o f la v a ) su c h a s th o s e
tuffs o r pyroclastic soils *. w h ic h a r e a c tiv e , d o r m a n t, o r e x tin c t in I ta ly (v o lc a n o e s o f
th e L a tiu m , th e P h le g re a n F ie ld s , S o m m a V e su v io , E tn a ,
* For clastic volcanic material ejected from craters the term tephra etc .).
has also been proposed [2]. T h e se m a te ria ls , e je c te d d u r in g th e e x p lo s iv e p h a se s, a re

285
 T able 1 lo n g o r s h o r t p h a se s o f in a c tiv ity . F in a lly , in a v o lca n ic
a re a th e re m a y be m o re th a n o n e c r a te r o r v o lc a n o a c tiv e
L ithogenetic classification o f soils
a t th e sa m e tim e (F ig . 2).
T h e so ils re m o te fro m a n e r u p tio n c e n tre h a v e g r e a te r u n i­
I
fo r m ity a n d h o m o g e n e ity a n d th e y m a y a lso be d e p o s ite d
S edim entary Slope debris. Som etim es w ith fo rm a ­
Alluvial deposits tion o f new m inerals in la y e rs. In e v e ry c ase th e y b la n k e t th e to p o g r a p h y o f th e
G lacial — (m ostly clay m inerals), re g io n a t th e tim e o f th e e r u p tio n .
Eolic — but w ithout cem en ta­ B y w a y o f e x a m p le , F ig . 3 a n d 4 sh o w so m e ty p ic a l so il
L acustrine — tion o r 1ithi ficat ion. p ro file s in R o m e a n d N a p le s [5, 6].
M arine —
R esidual soils (e.g. "g ra ­
nites” and “crystalline Constitution, grain size distribution and porosity
schists” o f C alabria,
dolom itic rock flour). T h e p y ro c la s tic so ils, d u e to th e ir o rig in , c o n sist o f a v a rie ty
Slide debris, soil horizons o f m a te ria ls , a s illu s tra te d in T a b le 2. T h e re th e d is tin c tio n
etc. b e tw e e n th e c o n s titu e n t m a te ria ls is m a d e o n th e ba sis o f th e
m o d e s o r c o n d itio n s o f th e ir genesis.
V olcanic E jected blocks. In the vicinity o f volcanic
Scoriae a n d scoriaceous centres o f the m ixed or
lavas. explosive ty p e : e.g. T able 2
L apilli up to volcanic P hlegrean Fields, V esu­
sands directly ejected vius, V olcanoes o f La- Pyroclastic soils classified acco rd in g to the origin
from volcanoes. tium , R occam onfina, o f the c o n stitu e n t m aterials
Pum ices (pum iceous la­ E tn a etc.
pilli) up to loose volca­
nic ashes som etim es Origin Type o f products
m ixed w ith o th er c o a r­
ser m aterial o f the P ro d u cts directly derived Ejected scoriae (sim ilar to the scoriae
sam e origin (loose fro m the e ru p tin g m ag­ o f lava ; glassy o nly on the su r­
tuffs) ; o nly non lithi- m a w hich is active at face).
fied and unaltered m a­ the m o m en t o f the e ru p ­ Lapilli m ostly consisting o f pieces
terials are considered tio n (essential ejecta). o f a n g u la r o r ro u n d e d vesicular
here. lava.
Bombs.
M eta- T ectonic brecciae up to A m ixture o f crushed Vitreous scoriae.
m orphic “c la y ” (friction clay), m aterial and blocks Pumices (pum iceous lapilli) form ed
w ith o u t subsequent from the sam e rock o f fro th y glass.
c em entation. fo rm atio n ; the blocks Ashes (m ore o r less pum iceous and
being jo in te d a n d frac- sc o ria c e o u s ); pu zzo lan as w ith very
red but n o t crushed. active constituents.
Such soils are com m on
in lim estone a n d dolo- M aterials derived fro m pre­ P ro d u cts o f the sam e types as above,
m itic-lim estone regions viously solidified volca­ to rn aw ay fro m th e ch im n ey of
o f the A ppennini and nic o r intrusive rocks of the explosion. P u re liquido-m ag-
in gran ite a n d schist the volcano (accessory m atic p ro d u c ts a lre ad y solidified
regions o f C alabria. ejecta). and to rn aw ay from the ro o f of
the m agm a c h am b er o r fro m the
chim ney (fragm ents o f igneous
rocks o f deep c o n so lid a tio n in tru ­
th r o w n in to th e a tm o s p h e re a n d a re d e p o s ite d a r o u n d th e ded am o n g se d im e n tary b e d s ;
v o lc a n o a t d is ta n c e s w h ic h d e p e n d u p o n th e size o f th e in d iv ­ fragm ents o f old lavas).
id u a l fra g m e n ts a n d o n th e ty p e o f e r u p tio n , a s w ell a s o n P ro d u cts o f endo-m orphism .
m e te o ro lo g ic a l c o n d itio n s a t th e tim e o f th e e ru p tio n .
T h e re fo re , a n o te w o r th y d iffere n ce e x ists b e tw ee n soils A lien m aterials ; fragm ents F ragm ents o f rocks w hose n a tu re ,
d e p o s ite d in th e im m e d ia te v ic in ity o f th e c r a te r s a n d soils o f rocks from the ro o f or geological age, facies etc. can
d e p o s ite d a t d ista n c e s a w a y fro m th e m , w hich a re so m e tim e s the walls o f the chim ney be directly recognised.
v e ry g re at. to rn aw ay during the
In th e fo rm e r, n o n u n ifo rm c o a rse g ra in e d m a te ria ls a re e x p l o s i o n s (accidental P roducts o f co n ta ct-m eta m o rp h ism
m o re fre q u e n t, w h e re a s in th e la tte r fin e -g ra in e d u n ifo rm ejecta). up to tachylyte, buchite, frag m en ts
o f m arble, etc.
m a te ria ls p re d o m in a te .
A s re g a rd s sh a p e , strik e a n d d ip o f th e g e o lo g ic al s tru c tu re s
fo rm e d b y v o lc a n ic so ils, a d is tin c tio n m u st be m a d e betw een M aterials o f the above Volcanic brecciae.
a re a s n e a r to th e e r u p tiv e c e n tre s a n d th o se w h ich a re d is ta n t m entioned types th o ­ Volcanic ashes (som e inert volcanic
fro m th e m . ro u g h ly m ixed. m aterials generally referred to as
In th e re g io n n e a r th e c e n tre s , se v e ra l fa c to rs c o n tr ib u te p uzzolanas a n d som e actu al puzzo ­
lanas).
to th e f o r m a tio n o f a c o m p le x series o f so ils o f v a rio u s ty p e s
Loose volcanic tuffs.
w h ic h m a y h a v e d iffe re n t d e g ree s o f in d u r a tio n . T h e m a te r ­
ials e je c te d fro m v o lc a n o e s a re d e p o s ite d o n v e ry c o m p le x
slo p in g su rfa c e s a n d h e n c e len s sh a p e d b o d ie s o r m asse s a re
fo rm e d . M o re o v e r, th e e x p lo s iv e p h a se s ( p a ro x is tic o r o th e r ­ M a n y o f th ese m a te ria ls h a v e a v itre o u s te x tu r e w h ic h is
w ise) o f m ix e d ty p e v o lc a n ic p h e n o m e n a , w h ich a re c h a r a c ­ m o re o r less s p o n g y a n d fro th y . T h e y h a v e b e e n fo r m e d b y
teriz e d b y th e th ro w in g o u t o f lo o se p ro d u c ts , a lte rn a te w ith th e c o n s o lid a tio n o f fra g m e n ts o f m a g m a , ric h in g a s, th a t
p h a se s o f la v a e ffu sio n , w ith p h a se s o f q u ie sc e n se , a n d w ith w ere th r o w n in to th e a tm o s p h e r e a n d ra p id ly c o o le d . In to

286
 Fig . 1 Distrib u tio n o f volcanoes in It aly.
Rép artitio n géographique des volcans en It alie.

th is c a te g o r y fa ll th e ashes, th e pum ices, a n d th e pum iceous o r fra g m e n ts o f c ry s ta ls , fra g m e n ts o f n o n -v o lc a n ic ro c k , e tc.

lapilli *. I t is o fte n fo u n d th a t tw o o r m o re o f th e sim p le ty p e s
S o m e p a rtic le s d o n o t h a v e a v itre o u s t e x t u r e ; o th e r s a re g iv e n in T a b le 2, a re m ix e d in th e sa m e d e p o sit.
v itre o u s o n ly o n th e ir su rfa c e s. A m o n g th e se ty p e s a re th e E x te r n a l a g e n ts (like r u n n in g w a te r a n d w in d ) a n d g ra v ity
scoriae w h ic h a re c o n s titu te d b y fra g m e n ts o f s c o ria c e o u s m a y re m o v e th ese lo o se p ro d u c ts a n d re d e p o s it th e m a w a y
la v a , th e lapilli th a t c o n s is t o f s m a ll fra g m e n ts o f la v a , c ry s ta ls f r o m th e p la c e in w h ic h th e y w ere o rig in a lly la id d o w n .
H e n c e th e se p r o d u c ts a r e o fte n re m o u ld e d a n d s o rte d , a n d
* It is to be remembered that many volcanic soils have puzzolanic th e y c a n be fo u n d m ix e d w ith m a te ria ls o f d iffe re n t n a tu re s
properties. Nam ely, they have an immediate and intense chemical a n d o rig in s. M ix in g , h o w e v e r, m a y a ls o o c c u r a t th e tim e o f
activity thanks to which they can, among other things, react with lime
in a moist environment to give hydraulic mortars. From this point of th e d e p o s itio n o f th e e je c te d m a te ria ls o n th e g r o u n d o r in
view, volcanic soils have been well known since ancient times [7, 8]. th e w a te r.
287
 Fig. 2 B lock-diagram show ing the com plex soil profiles in a volcanic region. T he solid black areas show lava.
T he o th er sym bols indicate various types o f pyroclastic m aterials.
Bloc d iagram m e d ’une région volcanique. E n n o ir so n t indiquées les laves. Les au tre s sym boles indi­
q u e n t des p ro d u its volcaniques de types différents.
Fig. 3 A typical soil profile in R o m e :
L = L av a
Pr = Pozzolana rossa; cohesionless volcanic soil
m ade u p o f lapilli and ashes
T = Tufo lionato; volcanic tuff
p = Pozzolanella; cohesionless volcanic soil.
Succession des sols volcaniques dan s les e n v iro n s de
R om e :
Lr = lave
Pr = Pozzolana rossa; sol volcanique incohérent
form é p a r des lapilli et des cendres
T = Tufo lionato; tu f volcanique
p = Pozzolanella; sol volcanique incohérent.
On the other hand, the volcanic material m ay undergo
alterations such as chemical and mineralogical changes.
The unaltered constituents o f volcanic soils are distinguis­
hable not on ly by their origins and their chemical and mineral­
ogical constituents (m ainly silicate, individualized or still
vitreous), but also by their grain size distributions.
From the point o f view o f grain size distribution the authors
have considered typical soils which frequently occur in large
quantities, and which are com posed essentially o f one o f the
simple types o f materials o f Table 2, such as the ashes and
the pum iceous lapilli.
288
In Fig. 5 the grain size distributions o f the types o f soils
which have been studied can be seen.
The ashes are constituted by grains having m axim um diame­
ters between 2 mm and 0-2 mm , and minim um diameters
being between 0-02 mm and 0-002 mm. The grain size distribu­
tions o f the pum ices (or pum iceous lapilli) are usually in the
range between 20 mm and 0-2 mm with predom inance o f the
fraction having diameters around 2 mm.
It should be noted that, in the case o f the authors, the
fraction < 2 [x o f the volcanic soils is not o f the clay type,
but o f the sam e chem ical and mineralogical nature as the
other grains. A lso the form and the state o f the fine particles
resemble to those o f the coarse ones. The fraction < 2 ¡i. often
has more pronounced puzzolanic properties.
Therefore the criteria o f appreciation and classification
o f sedim entary soils, which are based essentially on grain
size distribution, are not easily adaptable to volcanic soils.
A s for Atterberg Limits, their determ ination is not p o ssib le;
and even if they could be obtained they w ould have no signi­
ficance in relation to the criteria used with sedim entary soils.
In view o f their origin and nature, the grains o f volcanic
soils are o f irregular form and have rough surfaces. They
also have high porosity, and o n ly a limited number o f the
pores * are in com m unication with one another. This is parti­
cularly true in the case o f vitreous particles (from the pumi­
ceous lapilli to the extrem ely fine ashes). In the others (scoriae,
rock fragments, scoriaceous fragments, etc.) the pores m ay
n ot be present or they m ay be limited on ly to the particle
surfaces [7, 9],
The authors concentrate their studies on the highly porous
type o f grains formed from volcanic glass with dim ensions
ranging from one m icron to several centimetres.
The elem ents with diameters greater than about 1 mm
(pum ices) have irregular shapes and a typically spongy texture,
varying from fibrous to thready (Fig. 6). Their outer surfaces
are characterized by pores having w idely varying forms,
dim ensions and depths. A ll these pores will be called external
pores.
* In the following text the voids in the individual grains are defined
as "pores”. The term "interstices” is used to denote the voids between
one grain and another grain.
 Volcanic ash

0..............
0 - 0 0 'O•°• A•J
Q' û o a .0
«iî«*«
.1V - ‘A ^

s & v jiiïr .

Fig. 5 G ra in size d istrib u tio n o f volcanic soils c o n stitu te d

by ashes o r by pum ices.
G ra n u lo m é trie de sols volcaniques form és p a r des
cendres ou p a r des ponces.
. • • • •

5 m

Fig. 4 A ty p ic a l soil p rofile in th e city o f N ap les :

(a) ashes ;
(b) pum ices a n d lap id eo u s lapilli ;
(c) very fine, u n ifo rm grained ashes ;
(d) pum ices ;
(e) p um ices a n d very fine ashes ;
(f) fine pum ices m ixed w ith ro u n d e d lapilli ;
(g) lens-shaped layers o f u n ifo rm g rained volcanic
sands, th in in terlay ers o f ashes ;
(h) volcanic sand m ixed w ith ro u n d e d pum ices ;
(i) pum ices a n d lapilli ;
( 1) fine ashes m ixed w ith sm all pum ices ; th e to p
o f this lay e r has been ero d ed be fo re th e deposition
o f the o verlying soils.
Succession des sols volcaniques dans la région de N ap les :
(a) cendres ;
(b) ponces et lapilli ; Fig. 6 P h o to g ra p h o f som e pum ices. T he ex tern al pores o f
(c) cendres à g ra n u lo m étrie très fine et un ifo rm e ; the grains can be easily recognized.
(d) ponces ; P h o to g ra p h ie des ponces. O n peut re co n n aître les vides
(e) ponces et cendres à g ran u lo m étrie très fine ; externes des grains.
(f) petites ponces et lapilli a rro n d is ;
(g) lentilles de sable v olcanique à g ran u lo m étrie
u n ifo rm e avec des couches m inces de cendres ;
(h) sable v olcanique avec ponces a rro n d ies ;
(i) ponces et lapilli ;
( 1) cendres à g ran u lo m étrie fine avec des petites
ponces ; la face supérieure de cette couche a été
éro d ée a v a n t que se déposent les au tre s sols. Idealized shape

S o lid m a tte r
S o m e p o re s a re c o m p le te ly e n c lo se d w ith in th e g ra in s a n d
E x te rn a l p o re s c o m m u n ic a tin g w ith
d o n o t c o m m u n ic a te w ith th e a tm o s p h e re . T h e y w ill be c a lle d
th e a tm o s p h e r e
internal pores. T h e se v o id s c a n still c o n ta in w a te r a n d gases.
I n o r d e r to d e fin e th ese c h a ra c te ris tic s w e w ill c o n s id e r In te r n a l p o re s n o t c o m m u n ic a tin g
w ith th e a tm o s p h e r e
th e id e a liz e d sh a p e o f a g ra in . T h is sh a p e (F ig . 7) is d e te rm in e d
b y a re g u la r su rfa c e t h a t is a ta n g e n t to th e s m o o th a re a s o f
th e g ra in su rfa c e a n d th a t p a sse s th r o u g h th e ed g es o f th e Fig. 7 Idealized section th ro u g h a grain o f pum ice.
m o s t p r o n o u n c e d su rfa c e p o re s. Section idéale d ’un grain de ponce.

289
 T h e p a rtic le is th e n d e fin e d b y th is id e a liz e d sh a p e a n d its
v o lu m e V is o c c u p ie d b y :
S o lid m a tte r ( F ,).
E x te r n a l p o re s c o m m u n ic a tin g w ith th e a tm o s p h e r e ( Vn).
I n te r n a l p o re s n o t c o m m u n ic a tin g w ith th e a tm o s p h e r e ( K,).
C o r r e s p o n d in g ly th re e d iffe re n t p o ro s itie s o f th e g ra in s
c a n b e d e fin e d , as fo llo w s :

T o ta l g ra in p o r o s ity

E x te r n a l g ra in p o r o s ity ma =

I n te r n a l g r a in p o r o s ity mi = ~

I t h a s b e e n fo u n d th a t th e to ta l g r a in p o r o s ity v a rie s
b e tw e e n 70 a n d 80 p e r c e n t a n d th a t th e in te r n a l g ra in p o r o s ity
re a c h e s v a lu e s f r o m a few p e r c e n ts u p to 10 p e r c e n t.
P
W h ile th e u n it w e ig h t o f so lid m a tte r ( G = — , w h e re P

is th e w e ig h t o f th e p u lv e riz e d a n d o v e n d r ie d g ra in ) r e a ­
c h es, in th e c a se o f P h le g r e a n p u m ic e s (N a p le s ), a v e ra g e
v a lu e s o f a b o u t 2-5 g r p e r c u b c m ,* th e ir a p p a r e n t u n it

w e ig h t ( C 2 = P \I
— is less th a n one. A u n it w e ig h t,
v)

Gi = , w h ic h ta k e s in to a c c o u n t th e e x te r n a l g r a in 8 G rain s o f volcanic ash (m icro-pum ice E nl. x 100).

V -V u In (a) th e in te rn al p o res o f elongated fo rm sim ulating
a fibrous te x tu re c an be seen ; in (b) a m o re p ro n o u n c ed
p o r o s ity o n ly , c a n a ls o be d e fin e d . spo n g y tex tu re is evident.
T h e fra g m e n ts o f v o lc a n ic g lass w ith d im e n s io n s less th a n G ra in s de cen d re (m icro-ponces ; x 100). E n (a) les
vides internes, de fo rm e allongée re sse m b la n t à
a b o u t 1 m m ( v o lc a n ic a s h ) (F ig . 8) o fte n h a v e s h a r p ed g es,
un e te x tu re fibreuse, p e u v en t être re co n n u s ; en (b) u n e
a n d th e ir to ta l g r a in p o r o s ity m a y be v e ry m u c h less th a n
te x tu re spongieuse est m ise en évidence.
t h a t o f p u m ic e s b e c a u se o f th e s m a lle r p a r tic le sizes. F o r th ese
m a te ria ls th e in te r n a l p o re s, w h e n th e re a r e a n y , h a v e a p r o ­
p o r tio n a te ly g r e a te r im p o rta n c e .
Interstices between <
Physico-mechanical properties g r a in s
n
T h e in situ u n it d r y w e ig h t y d o f v o lc a n ic so ils v a rie s b e t­
w e e n w id e lim its. In th e c a se o f so ils c o n s is tin g m a in ly o f
c o a rse p u m ic e s, th e v a lu e s o f y a m a y b e less th a n 1 t o n p e r G rains m .
c u b . m w h ile fo r v o lc a n ic a sh o n e o b ta in s v a lu e s o f y d g re a te r
th a n 1 t o n p e r c u b . m b u t n e v e r v e ry h ig h .
Xt/G
W h e n th e p o r o s ity o f a v o lc a n ic so il a s a w h o le is d e te r ­ m
m in e d b y th e u s u a l m e th o d s, it m u st b e re m e m b e re d th a t th e
re su lts in c lu d e n o t o n ly th e v o id s a m o n g th e g ra in s ( in te r ­ 7 J j_
a E x tern a l p o re s n. = 7
stices) b u t a ls o th e p o re s w ith in th e g ra in s (F ig . 9). T h e coeffi­ 1-m G
c ie n t w h ic h re p re s e n ts th e lo o se n e ss o f th e m a te ria l is c le a rly b Internai pores 1 -n
n o t n, b u t n2 w h ic h ta k e s in to a c c o u n t o n ly th e in te rstic e s = 7-
1 -m
b e tw e e n th e p a rtic le s. c Solid m atter
In th e c ase o f so ils c o n s is tin g o f p u m ic e s o n e c a n find, Fig. 9 D ia g ra m illu stra tin g th e po ro sities o f a v olcanic soil.
fo r in s ta n c e , v a lu e s fo r n e q u a l to 0-80 w h e re a s n2 m a y h a v e D ia g ram m e e x p liq u a n t la p o ro sité des sols volcaniques.
v a lu e s o f o n ly sm a ll p e rc e n ta g e s.
F o r v o lc a n ic a sh e s n a ssu m e s v a lu e s u s u a lly b e tw e e n
0-50 a n d 0-60.
D u e to th e h ig h v a lu e s o f th e p o r o s ity , n, th e se so ils a re ic a l p r o p e rtie s o f th e s e so ils. F o r th is r e a s o n , th e s ta n d a r d s
a b le to a b s o r b v e ry la rg e v o lu m e s o f w a te r. I t is o b v io u s o f c la s s ific a tio n a n d th e ru le s fo r e x e c u tio n b a se d o n th e
h o w e v e r th a t o n ly th a t p a r t o f th e w a te r, o f te n a v e ry sm a ll m o is tu re c o n te n ts , w h ic h a r e v a lid f o r th e u s u a l so ils, c a n n o t
p a r t, w h ic h o c c u p ie s th e in te rstic e s w ill in flu e n ce th e m e c h a n - b e u se d h ere.
A t th e s a m e tim e it s h o u ld b e re m e m b e re d th a t, if re fe re n c e
is m a d e n o t o n ly to th e in te rstic e s b e tw e e n th e g ra in s b u t
* That is to say, values more or less corresponding to those o f alkali- a ls o to th e e x te r n a l a n d in te r n a l p o re s o f th e g ra in s , th e d e g re e
trachytes. o f s a tu r a tio n o f v o lc a n ic so ils is a lw a y s less th a n u n ity .

290
In d e e d , e v e n if th e w a te r fills a ll th e in te rstic e s, it c a n n o t
p e n e tr a te in to th e in te r n a l p o re s n o r c a n it d isp la c e th e a ir
in th e e x te r n a l p o re s w h ic h a re o f te n v e ry m in u te , e x c e p t
w ith e x tre m e d iffic u lty a n d u n d e r sp e c ia l c o n d itio n s .
C E dom etric c o n s o lid a tio n tests h a v e p r o v e d t h a t v o lc a n ic
soils c o n s o lid a te a c c o rd in g to th e se m i-lo g a rith m ic law v a lid
fo r o th e r soils.
en - e
T h e c o m p re s s io n in d e x C c =
Po + P
lo g j
Po
o f v o lc a n ic a sh e s d e p e n d s o n th e in itia l so il p o ro s ity .
T h e te sts sh o w th e e x is te n c e o f a lin e a r r e la tio n s h ip b e t­
w een — a n d th e in itia l v o id r a tio , e0 (F ig . 10).
Cr
T h e r a te o f c o n s o lid a tio n is c h a r a c te riz e d b y a p r im a r y
c o n s o lid a tio n w h ic h is n e g lig ib le c o m p a r e d w ith th e se c o n ­
d a r y o n e . T h e d e c re a s e o f th e v o id r a tio , e, c a n th e re fo re b e
e x p re ss e d b y a n e q u a tio n o f th e fo llo w in g ty p e :
A e = a + b lo g —
(o
w h e re a is th e d e c re a se o f e a f te r th e tim e t0.
W ith in th e e x p lo r e d ra n g e o f v a lu e s o f p , t h a t is u p to 10 k g
p e r sq . c m , th e v a lu e s o f th e co efficien t b f o r a g iv e n so il
in cre ase w h e n th e a p p lie d p re s s u re , p , is in c re a s e d . T h e y a lso
d e p e n d o n th e ty p e o f v o lc a n ic m a te ria l. W e c a n fo r th e
m o m e n t s ta te t h a t b is g r e a te r in p u m ic e s th a n in ashes.
T h e sh a p e o f th e c o n s o lid a tio n c u rv e s a n d th e v a r ia tio n s
o f th e coefficien t b a re c le a rly re la te d to th e b rittle n e ss o f th e
g ra in s a n d /o r o f th e ir e x te r n a l p a r ts [ 10, 11],
If v o lc a n ic soils th a t n o r m a lly lie a b o v e th e w a te r ta b le
a re g r a d u a lly flo o d e d , th e y b e g in to se ttle e v e n if th e a c tin g
p re ssu re re m a in s c o n s ta n t. L a b o r a to r y te s ts h a v e sh o w n th a t
th ese s e ttle m e n ts c a n re a c h v a lu e s o f so m e p e rc e n ta g e o f
th e soil th ic k n e ss. T h e v a lu e o f th e s e ttle m e n t d e p e n d s o n th e
v a lu e o f th e a c tiv e p re s s u re , a n d it b e c o m e s sm a lle r as th e
p re ssu re in cre ases.
T h e c o m p re ss iv e s tr e n g th in a tr ia x ia l te st d o e s n o t c h a n g e
a p p r e c ia b ly w ith v a r ia tio n s in th e m e th o d o f stre ss a p p lic a ­
tio n . T h e p r o c e d u r e g e n e ra lly u se d b y th e a u th o r s is to a p p ly
th e p re s s u re cr3 w ith th e d r a in a g e v a lv e s o p e n , a n d th e n a fte r
s e v e ra l h o u r s to a p p ly th e d e v ia to r stre ss (e^ — ct3), w ith th e
d r a in a g e v a lv e s c lo sed .
In th e c ase o f v o lc a n ic a sh e s it h a s b e e n fo u n d th a t w h en
th e m o is tu re c o n te n t v a rie s, w ith n o c h a n g e in th e so il p o ro s ity ,
th e r e a re n o a p p re c ia b le v a r ia tio n s in c o m p re ss iv e s tre n g th .
T h e re su lts th e re b y o b ta in e d in th e tr ia x ia l c o m p re ss io n
te s t g iv e v a lu e s o f th e fric tio n a n g le , <p, b e tw e e n 30° a n d 40°
a n d va lu e s o f a p p a r e n t c o h e s io n , c, w h ic h a re e ith e r n e g lig ­
ible o r v e ry sm a ll.
T h e sig n ific a n c e o f th e se re su lts in r e la tio n to th e b e h a v io u r
o f th e m a te ria ls in situ, a n d e sp e c ia lly in r e la tio n to th e fa c t
th a t m a n y u n u s u a lly h ig h a n d n e a r ly v e rtic a l slo p e s e x is t
in v o lc a n ic so ils, is th e o b je c t o f c u r r e n t r e s e a rc h b y th e
a u th o r s .
V o lc a n ic soils a re s a tis fa c to rily e m p lo y e d in th e c o n s tr u c ­
tio n o f e m b a n k m e n ts . U n d e r th e a c tio n o f field c o m p a c tin g
e q u ip m e n t o r in th e la b o r a to r y u n d e r th e a c tio n o f th e h a m m e r
in P r o c t o r ’s te s t, th e g ra in s b r e a k u p to a c e r ta in e x te n t
w ith c o n s e q u e n t c h a n g e s in g r a in size d is tr ib u tio n s a n d in
th e o th e r p r o p e rtie s o f th e so il. T h e m e a s u re d v a lu e s o f th e
o p tim u m m o is tu re c o n te n t a re u s u a lly v e ry h ig h . B o th th ese
c h a ra c te ris tic s a re e a s ily e x p la in e d w h e n it is re m e m b e re d
w h a t h a s b e e n sa id a b o u t th e c o n s titu tio n , fo rm , a n d p o r o s ity
o f th e g ra in s , a n d th e c o n d itio n o f th e ir su rfa c e s.
References
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291