Comparison of Basic Laboratory Test Results With More Sophisticated Laboratory and In-Situ Tests Methods on Soils in Southeastern Wisconsin

This report describes a comparison of basic laboratory test results with more sophisticated laboratory and in situ tests methods on soils in Southeastern Wisconsin. The generated soils data in the Milwaukee Marquette Interchange project has been used in an attempt to correlate the more "routine" laboratory tests to determine geotechnical design parameters (such as phi-angle, cohesion, unit weight, unconfined compression, consolidation characteristics, etc.). Correlations were identified among undrained shear strength, cohesion, friction angle, consolidation parameters, soil type, Atterberg limits, effective normal stress, and geological origin. ANOVA and nonlinear regression techniques were applied to identify and develop correlation equations. Regression analysis found that the undrained shear strength exponentially decreases with liquidity index and liquid limit. The undrained shear strength over effective overburden stress exponentially decreases with liquidity index and is constant over liquid limit and preconsolidation stress.