Abstract
The shear strength of soils is influenced by various geological parameters. Following the shear strength study of Norwegian tills by Opsal (2017), this study presents test results of a selection of such parameters, i.e., particle size distribution, particle shape, and the mineralogical composition, of 33 till samples (fractions <16 mm) from 6 rock provinces in the southern half of Norway. The mutual correlations between the geological parameters and their correlations to dry till shear strength have been investigated. The results are generally in accordance with expectations regarding the relation of such geological parameters to bedrock geology. The results also indicate that the till shear strength is not specifically governed by one geological parameter, but rather by an interaction of all the parameters combined. Particle size distribution and mineralogical composition are found to relate to the angle of friction, while particle shape is considered to influence the initial shear resistance and may thus be of special importance regarding the potential initiation of debris slides and flows in the respective provinces.
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Acknowledgements
The study is funded by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE, project no. 80197), and this article constitutes a part of the lead author’s PhD degree at the Department of Geoscience and Petroleum at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU-IGP). The authors would like to thank the supervisors at NTNU-IGP, Associate Professor Terje H. Bargel, Associate Professor Randi K. Ramstad, and Professor Bjørge H. Brattli for their guidance and helpful comments. The authors also thank Senior Engineer Laurentius Tijhuis at NTNU-IGP regarding the interpretation of the XRD results, as well as Professor Stephen J. Lippard at NTNU-IGP for proofreading.
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Opsal, Ø.L., Langeland, J.M. Geological parameters in relation to bedrock geology and shear strength of dry tills: samples from the southern half of Norway. Bull Eng Geol Environ 78, 1359–1370 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-018-1236-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-018-1236-3