Compression and Creep of Venice Lagoon Sands

A laboratory test program was conducted to evaluate the one-dimensional (1D) compression and creep properties of intact sand (and silty-sand) samples from a deep borehole at the Malamocco Inlet to the Venice Lagoon. The tests were performed with a constant rate of strain consolidometer and included special procedures for trimming the frozen samples and measuring strains during thawing and backpressure sat- uration. The specimens had variable ␣ne fractions ranging from 6 to 21% and mica contents ranging from 1 to 10%. The results con␣rmed that there is a strong correlation between the creep rate coef␣cient and the compressibility index and between the swelling index and mica content. The compression behavior in all tests is well described by a nonlinear compression model with a unique limiting compression curve and a vari- able transition parameter that re␣ects the ␣nes and mica content. Creep tests performed at different con␣ning pressures are also well represented by a simple two-parameter model