ISSUES AND TECHNIQUES FOR SAMPLING OVERCONSOLIDATED CLAYS

Obtaining high-quality samples in stiff, overconsolidated clay requires attention to many key issues. The sampling techniques used along the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coast are compared with those found in the state-of-the-art literature. Many of these conventional methods do not strictly follow recommended standards such as those presented by ASTM. However, evidence in the literature is sufficient to support several differences. The effects of sample size, extrusion, packaging, and storage on the engineering properties of stiff, overconsolidated clays found in Louisiana are summarized.