Soil assumptions granular Vs clay

[Fynch]

Is clay stronger than granular i.e. if you were to assume a conservative value for soil strength - would it be right to assume purely granular as a worse case scenario? (As a finger in air assumption prior to procurring GI)

 

[GeoEnvGuy]

Over consolidated clay is stronger than granular materials, normally consolidated clay is about half the strength of granular materials.

(As a finger in air assumption prior to procurring GI)

Look at a soils map for the area and assume those deposits are present.

 

[GeoPaveTraffic]

There is no one answer. It depends on the type of loading and needed performance.

Mike Lambert

 

[ebsico]

NO you cant it depends on the clay consolidation and the gradation of the granular soil

 

[Milliontown]

It also depends on the length of time you are analyzing. If you have a high plastic overconsolidated clay exposed to weathering (wetting and drying cycles) or unloading, eventually it will lose strength and move to the fully softened condition, which can be considerably less than peak.