Low-strain dynamic characterization of undisturbed Leda clay

The low-strain dynamic behavior of Leda clays is investigated using resonant column (RC) and bender element (BE) tests. Four undisturbed, lightly overconsolidated Leda clay samples, collected from two sites near the St. Lawrence River valley, are tested at different strains, confining stresses, and frequencies. To evaluate the effect of excitation frequency, simultaneous measurements of shear wave velocity using RC and BE tests are performed. The results show that the samples from the different sites behave differently. The high sensitivity of the Leda clays does not have a significant effect on the modulus degradation curves. However, the measured degradation curves are similar to those of soft clays with high plasticity, which is contrary to the expected behavior of these low plasticity (I p = 6.2–20) specimens. Likewise, the measured damping ratios are on the lower end of the typical values reported for soils of high plasticity. Low values of damping ratio make the amplification of small seismic events more likely in Leda clay deposits. The difference in the shear wave velocity measurements from RC and BE tests ranges from 17% to 26% depending on the confinement, likely because of the strong influence of P-waves observed in the BE tests for these soils.