Field Assessment of the Strength and Deformation Properties of Limonite

Detailed field investigations have recently been undertaken in the limonitic tropical soils of the South Pacific Region for a large industrial complex in New Caledonia. In situ investigations included piezo-Cone Penetrometer Tests (CPTU), Standard Penetration Tests (SPT), field and hand vane, pocket penetrometer tests, Menard pressuremeter testing and cross-hole seismic test ing. Deformations of subsurface material under trial surcharge loading were measured using a magnetic extensometer. Several of the field techniques outlined were performed in close proximity allowing comparison of the interpreted soil properties through standard correlations. This paper compares and discusses the variations in soil properties assessed from different field techniques and compares them to properties assumed from observations of the soil under surcharge loading from a trial embankment.