Mechanical behaviour of Florence clay at the high-speed train station

To develop the design of the Florence high-speed train station, Arup’s office in Milan committed to the geotechnical laboratory of the University of Naples the execution of an extensive experimental program. Special triaxial and RCTS (resonant column-torsional shear) tests were performed using deep undisturbed samples of Florence clay. To reduce initial damage to specimens, the coil wire suspension method, proposed by the Imperial College, was adopted. Moreover, two tests were performed on specimens set up with the more traditional wet setting and dry setting method. The best results were obtained through the dry setting method. Using both RCTS and TXJ it was possible to analyze the small and medium strain behaviour of specimens, while the strength was studied under triaxial condition only. Some triaxial extension tests were also performed. Data obtained from THOR and TXJ at small and at medium strain were compared in terms of undrained shear modulus. A fairly good agreement has been found between the experimental results.