Deformation Characteristics of Saturated Soft Clay in Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta

The soil profiles of Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta consist mainly of saturated soft clays, which substantially vary in thickness and physico-mechanical properties. It is, therefore, very crucial to properly identify the characteristics of these clayey soils for reliable estimation of deformation. However, previous studies have focused on the soil properties and their relationships only at a certain pressure range which is not applicable to the soils in those regions. Accordingly, this study analyzed the deformation characteristics of soft clays at their working conditions in Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta, based on the data collected from existing projects and additional performed experiments. The values of deformation modulus and compression index at the end of primary consolidation stage and those at twenty-four hours after loading show no significant differences. Besides, the compression index is closely correlated with the void ratio. Moreover, the soft soil near the ground surface is over-consolidated and the over-consolidation ratio varies nonlinearly with depth. The ratio Ch/Cv varies from 1.6 to 1.8, while the structural strength is negligible, ranging from 1 to 2 kPa.