Evaluation of electro kinetic properties of Sri Lankan peaty clays

Abstract

Finding economical and speedy methods for the improvement of extremely soft peaty clays is a major challenge ahead of the Sri Lankan geotechnical engineers involved in new infrastructure development projects. Peaty clays are with very high water contents and found in low lying areas in several parts of the country. Major Geotechnical problems are associated with constructions done on peaty clays due to very high primary and secondary consolidation settlements and very low shear strengths. Extremely soft consistency of soils encountered in some sites makes it impossible to place any fill without the use of reinforcements and separation layers. Even then the construction will have to be done in several stages to prevent shear failures. In this context the possibility of consolidating the extremely soft peaty clays by electro osmosis - without application of a physical load was studied.