Geochemistry and geotechnical characteristics of London Clay from Heathrow Airport

摘要

Samples of London Clay from a single 30 m deep borehole at Heathrow Airport's terminal T-5 were tested to evaluate laboratory characteristics with a focus on geochemistry and basic geotechnical characterization. The results of the tests are described and discussed in the context of the influence of composition on geotechnical properties and behavior. The vertical variation in properties is shown and the interrelation between composition; i.e., CEC, SSA and clay fraction, and behavior, i.e., plasticity and free swell is presented. The results of the tests are compared with some available results in the literature and samples of London Clay obtained from Canon's Park and Gault Clay from near Cambridge. The results show that specific composition exerts a strong influence on the behavior of London Clay and also demonstrate the complexity of a single geologic deposit at a single site.