Development of Empirical Equation for Compressibility of Marine Clays

Geotechnical designs use compression index for assessment of Compressibility of soils. Compression index is evaluated as the slope of virgin compression curve. The laboratory consolidation test is time consuming and hence, a number of empirical correlations have been proposed by the researchers relating the compression index to soil index properties such as natural moisture content, initial void ratio, liquid limit, plasticity index. The reliability and predictability of these correlations are always being debated. Hence, the present work is intended to develop correlation equation for compressibility of marine clays through detailed study on key influencing factors affecting compressibility of soil namely shrinkage index, minus 425µ fraction and initial void ratio. The developed correlation equation in terms of the identified influencing factors yielded acceptable levels in terms of standard error and coefficient of correlation.