CPT-based evaluation of silt/clay contents and the shear wave velocity of seabed soils in the Yellow River delta

The fine content (FC) and shear wave velocity (V_s) are important references for the soil classification and physical or mechanical properties evaluation. It is the spatial variability of soils that leads to large errors in existing CPT (cone penetration test)-based geotechnical evaluation methods in various locations, particularly in submarine environment. In this paper, quantifying relationships of V_s with refined silt content (SC) or clay content (CC) from FC were established using CPTs and shear wave velocity tests at the shallow banks of the Yellow River Delta, effectively improving the accuracy of V_s calculations in fine-grained soils. Results have shown that the relationship between SC or CC and V_s can be described by an exponential function, meanwhile similar variation in FC and V_s in shallow and submerged soils of the Yellow River Delta. The focus area decreases in SC and increases in CC with distance from shore. The V_s gradually increases with penetration depth.