A CASE STUDY ON THE CHARACTERIZATION OF INTERMEDIATE GEOMATERIAL

ABSTRACT: Intermediate Geomaterials (IGMs) exhibit high variability and geological uncertainty due to their complex nature of formations because the IGMs occur when the natural process of soil or rock formation is incomplete or interrupted. The present paper describes a specific case study in Newfoundland and Labrador, where intermediate geomaterials were encountered during site investigations in 2022 and 2024. Disturbed samples were used to determine the index properties; while coring and direct-push sampling (Geoprobe®) were used to determine mechanical properties. Laboratory tests on IGM cores were carried out at Memorial University of Newfoundland to determine the drained and undrained shear strength parameters. Laboratory test results indicate that the combined index and mechanical properties could provide a better insight into the stratigraphic layers of IGMs at the subject site. The strength parameters measured correspond to lower-bound values of the typical strength values for IGMs due to the somewhat disturbed nature of the IGM core samples.