In situ testing of unsaturated organic soils using piezovane

In situ testing of unsaturated organic soils using piezovane. The new PZO-1 piezovane, capable of pore pressure measurements, solves one of the most recalcitrant problems faced by foundation engineers, namely finding the on-site characteristics of compressible soils, in particular organic soils such as peat and organic clays. This paper describes the construction, features and functions of the newly developed piezovane, together with measurement procedures and the interpretation of results for organic soils. Some pilot test results on peat deposits in the Biebrza and Wieprz valleys are also included. The interpretation of the measurements of negative pore-water pressure in unsaturated part of deposit and positive in saturated one shows that the new piezovane supplies far more of the data required not only for foundation design but also for assessing the impact of design structures on the environment