This study evaluated the soil properties of clean sand, a silty sand, and a road base that are extensively used as a backfill for full-scale testing at Riverside Campus at Texas A&M University. The three soils were collected at the Riverside Campus and the testing schedule included grain size analysis, hydrometer test, specific gravity, maximum dry density, Atterberg limit, stiffness, direct shear test, triaxial test, and a simple procedure to estimate the maximum and minimum void ratio of the clean sand. Relation between strength/deformation, vertical displacement/shear displacement, and physical properties were evaluated to estimate the frictional resistance and angle of dilation of the clean sand and the silty sand. Numerical simulations of the Direct Shear Test (DST) were conducted on the clean sand using Finite Element Model in the computer program LS-DYNA. The simulations were intended to reproduce the Direct Shear Test (DST) to estimate the frictional resistance and dilatancy effects of the clean sand under different compressive stresses. Field tests were also conducted on the clean sand and the road base. These tests included the in-situ density determination, in-situ water content, and the soil modulus using the Briaud Compaction Device (BCD).

Scour around important foundation elements for bridges and other coastal infrastructure is the leading cause of failure and instability of those structures. Traditional scour mitigation methods, such as the placement of riprap, the use of collars or slots, embedding foundations deeper, or a combination thereof can be costly, require long-term maintenance, and can potentially have detrimental environmental effects downstream. These difficulties with traditional methods are potentially alleviated with the implementation of self-sustaining bivalve (e.g., mussel, oyster, scallop) farms that could act as mats of interconnected living barriers, protecting the seabed from scour. The mats would help to attract larval settlement by making the substrate a more suitable habitat, contributing to the sustainability of the bivalve farms. Colonies of bivalves are already being used as living shorelines for retreatment mitigation, embankment stabilization, and supporting habitat for other marine life. These applications are accomplished, in part, by bivalves' strong attachment capabilities from the bioadhesives they secrete that act as a strong underwater glue, adhering their shells to granular substrate. Some species of mussels have been shown to withstand water flow velocities greater than 6 m/s without detaching. For reference, riprap with a median grain size of about 655 mm has been shown to require a flow velocity of at least 1.7 m/s for incipient motion of the boulder-sized riprap. In addition to the contiguous living bivalve mat offering scour protection, the whole or fragmented shells (i.e., shell hash) that are left behind from dead bivalves are hypothesized to reduce erosion potential. Shell hash-laden sediments should be able to better withstand shearing, thereby increasing the critical shear stress required to erode material, compared to sediment without shell hash. Habitat suitability for bivalve colonies is also an important consideration to evaluate what surface enhancements may be needed for a site to be selected for implementation of bivalve scour mats. Bed surfaces that consist of unconsolidated fine-grained sediment are unlikely to be able to support bivalve species as the organisms could sink into the sediment, not allowing solid anchoring points. In contrast, harder substrates typically found in granular sediments offer much more suitable habitats. Along with testing the influence of shell hash and bioadhesive on sediment behavior, this thesis aims to establish a methodology to evaluate whether a section of seafloor can support bivalves or enhancement materials (e.g., shell, shale, or slag fragments) without them sinking, thereby depriving them of oxygen. Together, the examining of geotechnical aspects of bivalve habitat enhancement through seabed soil alteration and the influence of shell hash and bioadhesives on sediment shear behavior are part of a novel multidisciplinary approach toward this proposed bioengineered scour solution. Consequently, the research objectives explored in this thesis are as follows: (1) characterize morphology of existing bivalve colonies through acoustic and direct field measurements; (2) evaluate the spatial variation of the sediment shear strength in terms of proximity to bivalve colonies; (3) expand the domain of confining pressures and shell hash weight fractions used in sediment strength testing; (4) quantify the changes in shear strength and erodibility from laboratory tests on sampled material with and without the presence of bioadhesives, as well as shell fragments mixed in with the sediment; and, (5) develop a methodology ranking system for the suitability of a surficial sediments to support seeding material to improve benthic life habitat substrates. Three exploratory field surveys were conducted where colonies of oysters and other benthic life were present: in the Piankatank River in Virginia, in the Northwest Arm of the Sydney Harbour in Nova Scotia, Canada, and at the Rachel Carson Reserve in North Carolina. Field sampling techniques included Ponar grab samples, hand-dug samples, X-ray rectangular prism cores, and cylindrical push cores, which were all pivotal to understanding sediment composition, size and shape of particle distributions, as well as in-situ depth profiles of shells. Remote sensing and intrusive instrumentation included a rotary scanning sonar, acoustic Doppler current profilers, CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) probes, underwater cameras, a portable free-fall penetrometer, and in-situ jet erosion testing which helped to characterize the morphology of the bivalve colonies and the spatial variability of sediment strength. Subsequent laboratory experiments included grain size distribution analyses, vacuum triaxial tests to measure changes in shear strength with and without shell hash, and miniature vane and pocket erodometer tests on bioadhesive-treated sediments. The results showed: (1) a significant increase in the standard deviation of the backscatter intensity where the oyster reef was located; (2) the in-situ sediment shear strength increased slightly closer to the oyster reef at the Piankatank River site; (3) samples with a higher oyster density exhibited less uniform particle size distributions; (4) the presence of less than approximately 4% (by weight) of shell fragments increased the secant friction angle by approximately 6° relative to samples with no shell fragments; and, (5) the harbor bed of the Northwest Arm of the Sydney Harbour is a suitable stiffness for enhancement with shell hash over about 23% of its area. Preliminary testing showed a subtle increase in the torsional shear resistance and a decrease in erodibility for bioadhesive-treated samples; however, further testing is needed for confidence to be achieved in the results due to bioadhesive supply issues. / Master of Science / Oysters and mussels are aquatic mollusks (i.e., bivalves) that are known to be able to withstand strong storm flows without detaching from rocks and other hard surfaces. Knowing this and the increasing need for environmental- and ecological-friendly solutions in engineering and construction further accelerated by climate change and sea level rise are the motivations for studying whether bivalves can be used in this capacity. Traditional methods to protect against bridge failures caused from individual piers that become unstable from sediment eroding away from their bases can be costly, require long-term maintenance efforts, and can potentially have detrimental environmental impacts. As an alternative to or supplement to traditional methods, bivalves could be laid down in mats near the base of piers to act as a protective interconnected layer, diverting strong water flows away from the otherwise exposed sediments susceptible to erosion while strengthening the seabed. Much is known and has been investigated on the biology of bivalves but understanding how these organisms influence the sediments near them has not been studied extensively from a geotechnical engineering perspective. Specifically, within geotechnical engineering, this study is focused primarily on the influence of oyster shell fractures, naturally found in the vicinity of bivalve colonies, and the organic glue that bivalves use to attach themselves to rocks on the engineering behavior of nearby sediments. Secondary to that main objective is to establish a methodology to evaluate whether a section of seafloor can support bivalves without them sinking, thereby suffocating them. In summary, this thesis investigates methods to evaluate whether the seafloor is suitable for supporting bivalves and if their presence changes the way sediments behave after various forces are applied. To accomplish these research goals, three exploratory field surveys were conducted for this thesis: in the Piankatank River in Virginia, in the Northwest Arm of the Sydney Harbour in Nova Scotia, Canada, and at the Rachel Carson Reserve in North Carolina where bivalves were present. Through field sediment sampling, underwater sonar imagery, penetrating probes, and subsequent geotechnical laboratory testing, shell-sediment interactions were characterized. The results showed: (1) an oyster reef in the Piankatank River could be observed in great detail with sonar imagery; (2) sediment strength increased slightly the closer to the oyster reef; samples with more oyster shells in them exhibited (3) a wider range of particle sizes and (4) an increase in sediment strength; and (5) less than a quarter of the harbor bed of the Northwest Arm of the Sydney Harbour is suitable for armoring the seafloor with pieces of shell, shale, and slag to support bivalve growth. Initial tests with the organic underwater glue from bivalves showed promising results with respect to improvements in sediment strength and decreased erodibility, however, further testing is needed as supply of the organic glue was limited.

As part of an international cooperative research program, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and researchers from the National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) of India are studying the physical properties of sediment recovered during the NGHP-01 cruise conducted offshore India during 2006. Here we report on index property, acoustic velocity, and triaxial shear test results for samples recovered from the Krishna-Godavari Basin. In addition, we discuss the effects of sample storage temperature, handling, and change in structure of fine-grained sediment. Although complex, sub-vertical planar gas-hydrate structures were observed in the silty clay to clayey silt samples prior to entering the Gas Hydrate And Sediment Test Laboratory Instrument (GHASTLI), the samples yielded little gas post test. This suggests most, if not all, gas hydrate dissociated during sample transfer. Mechanical properties of hydrate-bearing marine sediment are best measured by avoiding sample depressurization. By contrast, mechanical properties of hydrate-free sediments, that are shipped and stored at atmospheric pressure can be approximated by consolidating core material to the original in situ effective stress.

The deep mining and civil engineering industry need to perform rock stability analyses during excavation projects. The stability is mainly controlled by the shear strength of the rock fractures, which are the weakest point of the rock mass. In turn, the shear strength is governed by the mechanical properties of the fractures. It is both time and cost demanding to determine the properties of the rock fractures in laboratory. Also, the interpretation of the results requires a deep understanding of the normal and shear behaviour of rock fractures. This study aims to investigate if it is possible to determine the peak shear strength of rock fractures by merely estimating fracture parameters during field mapping and core logging. SKB supplied test results on drilled bore cores from site investigations in Forsmark and Laxemar for deep nuclear waste deposits. SKB generated data of high quality and in large quantity, which made it very valuable for the purpose of the study. The study begins with a literature review and an interaction matrix, clarifying the relationships between mechanical properties and affecting parameters of rock fractures. The predicted relationships of the parameters are then tested in an analysis based on the compiled data from SKB. The results show that the peak friction angle, the residual friction angle and the dilation angle are possible to approximate for open granite fractures in deep mining projects. Further on, the study proposes that the joint matching coefficient is included in the field mapping and core logging since it has a strong influence on the mechanical behaviour of the fracture, notably the normal and shear stiffness. Finally, the study questions estimations of JRC on small samples.

Portable Free Fall Penetrometers (PFFPs) are lightweight tools used for rapid and economic characterization of surficial subaqueous sediments. PFFPs vary in weight, shape and size with options for using add-on units. The different configurations enable deployments in various environments and water depths, including the nearshore zone where conventional methods are challenged by energetic hydrodynamics and limited navigable depth. Moreover, PFFPs offer an opportunity to reduce the high site investigation costs associated with conventional offshore geotechnical site investigation methods. These costs are often a major obstacle for small projects serving remote communities or testing novel renewable energy harvesting machines. However, PFFPs still face issues regarding data analysis and interpretation, particularly in energetic sandy nearshore areas. This includes a lack of data and accepted analysis methods for such environments. Therefore, the goal of this research was to advance data interpretation and sediments characterization methods using PFFPs with emphasis on deployments in energetic nearshore environments. PFFP tests were conducted in the nearshore areas of: Yakutat Bay, AK; Cannon Beach, AK; and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Field Research Facility's beach, Duck, NC. From the measurements, the research goal was addressed by: (1) introducing a methodology to create a regional sediment classification scheme utilizing the PFFP deceleration and pore pressure measurements, sediment traces on the probe upon retrieval, and previous literature; (2) investigating the effect of wave forcing on the sediments' behavior through correlating variations in sediment strength to wave climate, sandbar migration, and depth of closure, as well as identifying areas of significant sediment mobilization processes; and (3) estimating the relative density and friction angle of sand in energetic nearshore areas from PFFP measurements. For the latter, the field data was supported by vacuum triaxial tests and PFFP deployments under controlled laboratory conditions on sand samples prepared at different relative densities. The research outcomes address gaps in knowledge with regard to the limited studies available that investigate the sand geotechnical properties in energetic nearshore areas. More specifically, the research contributes to the understanding of surficial sediment geotechnical properties in energetic nearshore areas and the enhancement of sediment characterization and interpretation methods. / PHD

Esta dissertação apresenta os procedimentos experimentais e resultados obtidos na caracterização geotécnica de um solo residual de granulito envolvido na instabilização de uma encosta no município de Gaspar, SC, com o objetivo de contribuir para a compreensão dos processos desencadeadores das instabilidades de encostas em Santa Catarina. O movimento rotacional extremamente rápido envolveu um volume de cerca de 110.000 m³, e provocou a morte de duas pessoas. A ruptura ocorreu uma semana depois de um episódio de elevada precipitação pluviométrica (cerca de 440mm em 2 dias). Este estudo compreendeu a execução de ensaios de laboratório para determinação de propriedades geotécnicas do solo residual de granulito e uma análise simplificada da estabilidade da encosta. Foram realizados ensaios de caracterização física, difração de Raios-X, compressibilidade, expansibilidade, condutividade hidráulica e resistência ao cisalhamento com ensaios tipo ring shear, cisalhamento direto, ensaios triaxiais tipo CIU e com trajetória de tensões especial, em amostras indeformadas e remoldadas. O solo tem uma textura predominantemente siltosa, com a fração tamanho argila (aproximadamente 15%) composta principalmente por caulinitas. As análises de microscopia mostraram que grande parte dos minerais argilosos se encontra na forma de grumos com tamanho de silte. Estes grumos se desagregam quando submetidos a esforços mecânicos de cisalhamento. O solo residual apresenta um baixo coeficiente de condutividade hidráulica (da ordem de 10-7 a 10-8 m/s) e os ensaios mostraram uma redução de cerca de uma ordem de magnitude do coeficiente com o aumento da tensão de confinamento até 400 kPa. Os ensaios oedométricos revelaram a natureza estruturada de solo e a dificuldade de determinação da tensão de pré-adensamento do solo. Os ensaios de cisalhamento direto em corpos de prova remoldados e em corpos de prova indeformados forneceram parâmetros de resistência ao cisalhamento de pico similares (ø’~25º e c’ =10 kPa). Ensaios triaxiais em corpos de prova indeformados utilizando uma trajetória de tensões com acréscimo de poropressão indicaram parâmetros de resistência ø’ =32,5º e c’ =12,5 kPa. O ângulo de atrito interno residual (ring shear) determinado neste solo foi de 9º. As análises de estabilidade realizadas mostraram que a encosta passa a apresentar instabilidade quando o nível de água no interior do maciço atinge a cota 59m acima do nível do mar. / This dissertation presents the experimental procedures and results obtained in the geotechnical characterization of a granulite residual soil involved in a landslide of a cut slope in the town of Gaspar, SC, with the objective of understanding the processes involved in such failure. This rotational extremely rapid slide involved a soil volume of around 110.000 m³ and caused the deaths of two people. The failure occurred a week after an episode of high rainfall (about 440mm in 2days). This study included the implementation of laboratory tests to determine geotechnical properties of the granulite residual soil and a simplified analysis of slope stability. The tests carried out include: physical characterization, X-ray diffraction analysis, compressibility, expansibility, hydraulic conductivity, and shear strength tests: ring shear, direct shear and triaxial CIU type with special stress path on undisturbed and remolded specimens. This soil has a sandy-silt texture, with the clay size (approximately 15%) composed mainly of kaolinite. Microscopic analyses showed that most of the clay minerals are in the form of silt size blocks. These blocks suffer disintegration when subjected to mechanical shear. The residual soil has a low coefficient of hydraulic conductivity (10-7 to 10- 8 m/s) and the tests showed a reduction of about one order of magnitude of the coefficient as the confining stress was the increased up to 400 kPa. The oedometer tests revealed the structured nature of soil and the difficulty of determining the preconsolidation pressure. Direct shear tests on remolded and undisturbed samples revealed similar peak shear strength parameters (ø'~25°, c' =10 kPa). Strength parameters of ø'= 32,5° and c' = 12,5 kPa were obtained in triaxial tests on undisturbed samples following a stress path that lead the soil to failure by increase of pore pressure. The angle of internal friction at residual condition (ring shear) of this soil was 9°. The stability analysis carried out showed that the slope becomes unstable when the water level within the slope reaches the elevation of 59m above sea level.

Os movimentos de massa de solo, geralmente, estão relacionados com a mobilização da resistência de uma ou várias superfícies de ruptura pré-existentes. Dessa maneira, o conhecimento da propriedade que rege esse comportamento (resistência ao cisalhamento residual) é de extrema importância no estudo da estabilidade de solos. Segundo Skempton (1985), resistência ao cisalhamento residual é a resistência mínima constante que o solo pode atingir, a baixas taxas de cisalhamento, após sofrer grandes deslocamentos. A determinação dos parâmetros de resistência ao cisalhamento residual pode ser realizada através de ensaios de cisalhamento por torção do tipo ring shear, adequado para estudar os mecanismos atuantes na ruptura, uma vez que permite a continuidade dos deslocamentos no solo. Nesse contexto, a pesquisa teve por objetivo desenvolver um equipamento de cisalhamento torsional baseado no ring shear descrito por Bishop et al. (1971) para avaliar o comportamento do solo a grandes deformações. O equipamento projetado foi validado, preliminarmente, segundo os resultados já publicados na literatura. / Landslides, generally, are related with the mobilization of shear strength of one or more preexisting rupture surfaces. Thus, knowledge of the property that governs this behavior (residual shear strength) has extreme importance in the stability soils study. According to Skempton (1985), residual shear strength is the minimum constant strength attained at low shear rates, at large displacements. The residual shear strength parameters can be accomplished through ring shear tests, suitable for studying the mechanisms in the rupture, since it provides continuity of displacements in the soil. In this context, the research aimed to develop a device based on ring shear described by Bishop et al. (1971) to evaluate the soil behavior in large deformations. The equipment designed was validated, preliminarily, according to the results already published in the literature.

Esta dissertação apresenta os procedimentos experimentais e resultados obtidos na caracterização geotécnica de um solo residual de granulito envolvido na instabilização de uma encosta no município de Gaspar, SC, com o objetivo de contribuir para a compreensão dos processos desencadeadores das instabilidades de encostas em Santa Catarina. O movimento rotacional extremamente rápido envolveu um volume de cerca de 110.000 m³, e provocou a morte de duas pessoas. A ruptura ocorreu uma semana depois de um episódio de elevada precipitação pluviométrica (cerca de 440mm em 2 dias). Este estudo compreendeu a execução de ensaios de laboratório para determinação de propriedades geotécnicas do solo residual de granulito e uma análise simplificada da estabilidade da encosta. Foram realizados ensaios de caracterização física, difração de Raios-X, compressibilidade, expansibilidade, condutividade hidráulica e resistência ao cisalhamento com ensaios tipo ring shear, cisalhamento direto, ensaios triaxiais tipo CIU e com trajetória de tensões especial, em amostras indeformadas e remoldadas. O solo tem uma textura predominantemente siltosa, com a fração tamanho argila (aproximadamente 15%) composta principalmente por caulinitas. As análises de microscopia mostraram que grande parte dos minerais argilosos se encontra na forma de grumos com tamanho de silte. Estes grumos se desagregam quando submetidos a esforços mecânicos de cisalhamento. O solo residual apresenta um baixo coeficiente de condutividade hidráulica (da ordem de 10-7 a 10-8 m/s) e os ensaios mostraram uma redução de cerca de uma ordem de magnitude do coeficiente com o aumento da tensão de confinamento até 400 kPa. Os ensaios oedométricos revelaram a natureza estruturada de solo e a dificuldade de determinação da tensão de pré-adensamento do solo. Os ensaios de cisalhamento direto em corpos de prova remoldados e em corpos de prova indeformados forneceram parâmetros de resistência ao cisalhamento de pico similares (ø’~25º e c’ =10 kPa). Ensaios triaxiais em corpos de prova indeformados utilizando uma trajetória de tensões com acréscimo de poropressão indicaram parâmetros de resistência ø’ =32,5º e c’ =12,5 kPa. O ângulo de atrito interno residual (ring shear) determinado neste solo foi de 9º. As análises de estabilidade realizadas mostraram que a encosta passa a apresentar instabilidade quando o nível de água no interior do maciço atinge a cota 59m acima do nível do mar. / This dissertation presents the experimental procedures and results obtained in the geotechnical characterization of a granulite residual soil involved in a landslide of a cut slope in the town of Gaspar, SC, with the objective of understanding the processes involved in such failure. This rotational extremely rapid slide involved a soil volume of around 110.000 m³ and caused the deaths of two people. The failure occurred a week after an episode of high rainfall (about 440mm in 2days). This study included the implementation of laboratory tests to determine geotechnical properties of the granulite residual soil and a simplified analysis of slope stability. The tests carried out include: physical characterization, X-ray diffraction analysis, compressibility, expansibility, hydraulic conductivity, and shear strength tests: ring shear, direct shear and triaxial CIU type with special stress path on undisturbed and remolded specimens. This soil has a sandy-silt texture, with the clay size (approximately 15%) composed mainly of kaolinite. Microscopic analyses showed that most of the clay minerals are in the form of silt size blocks. These blocks suffer disintegration when subjected to mechanical shear. The residual soil has a low coefficient of hydraulic conductivity (10-7 to 10- 8 m/s) and the tests showed a reduction of about one order of magnitude of the coefficient as the confining stress was the increased up to 400 kPa. The oedometer tests revealed the structured nature of soil and the difficulty of determining the preconsolidation pressure. Direct shear tests on remolded and undisturbed samples revealed similar peak shear strength parameters (ø'~25°, c' =10 kPa). Strength parameters of ø'= 32,5° and c' = 12,5 kPa were obtained in triaxial tests on undisturbed samples following a stress path that lead the soil to failure by increase of pore pressure. The angle of internal friction at residual condition (ring shear) of this soil was 9°. The stability analysis carried out showed that the slope becomes unstable when the water level within the slope reaches the elevation of 59m above sea level.

Os movimentos de massa de solo, geralmente, estão relacionados com a mobilização da resistência de uma ou várias superfícies de ruptura pré-existentes. Dessa maneira, o conhecimento da propriedade que rege esse comportamento (resistência ao cisalhamento residual) é de extrema importância no estudo da estabilidade de solos. Segundo Skempton (1985), resistência ao cisalhamento residual é a resistência mínima constante que o solo pode atingir, a baixas taxas de cisalhamento, após sofrer grandes deslocamentos. A determinação dos parâmetros de resistência ao cisalhamento residual pode ser realizada através de ensaios de cisalhamento por torção do tipo ring shear, adequado para estudar os mecanismos atuantes na ruptura, uma vez que permite a continuidade dos deslocamentos no solo. Nesse contexto, a pesquisa teve por objetivo desenvolver um equipamento de cisalhamento torsional baseado no ring shear descrito por Bishop et al. (1971) para avaliar o comportamento do solo a grandes deformações. O equipamento projetado foi validado, preliminarmente, segundo os resultados já publicados na literatura. / Landslides, generally, are related with the mobilization of shear strength of one or more preexisting rupture surfaces. Thus, knowledge of the property that governs this behavior (residual shear strength) has extreme importance in the stability soils study. According to Skempton (1985), residual shear strength is the minimum constant strength attained at low shear rates, at large displacements. The residual shear strength parameters can be accomplished through ring shear tests, suitable for studying the mechanisms in the rupture, since it provides continuity of displacements in the soil. In this context, the research aimed to develop a device based on ring shear described by Bishop et al. (1971) to evaluate the soil behavior in large deformations. The equipment designed was validated, preliminarily, according to the results already published in the literature.

Esta dissertação apresenta os procedimentos experimentais e resultados obtidos na caracterização geotécnica de um solo residual de granulito envolvido na instabilização de uma encosta no município de Gaspar, SC, com o objetivo de contribuir para a compreensão dos processos desencadeadores das instabilidades de encostas em Santa Catarina. O movimento rotacional extremamente rápido envolveu um volume de cerca de 110.000 m³, e provocou a morte de duas pessoas. A ruptura ocorreu uma semana depois de um episódio de elevada precipitação pluviométrica (cerca de 440mm em 2 dias). Este estudo compreendeu a execução de ensaios de laboratório para determinação de propriedades geotécnicas do solo residual de granulito e uma análise simplificada da estabilidade da encosta. Foram realizados ensaios de caracterização física, difração de Raios-X, compressibilidade, expansibilidade, condutividade hidráulica e resistência ao cisalhamento com ensaios tipo ring shear, cisalhamento direto, ensaios triaxiais tipo CIU e com trajetória de tensões especial, em amostras indeformadas e remoldadas. O solo tem uma textura predominantemente siltosa, com a fração tamanho argila (aproximadamente 15%) composta principalmente por caulinitas. As análises de microscopia mostraram que grande parte dos minerais argilosos se encontra na forma de grumos com tamanho de silte. Estes grumos se desagregam quando submetidos a esforços mecânicos de cisalhamento. O solo residual apresenta um baixo coeficiente de condutividade hidráulica (da ordem de 10-7 a 10-8 m/s) e os ensaios mostraram uma redução de cerca de uma ordem de magnitude do coeficiente com o aumento da tensão de confinamento até 400 kPa. Os ensaios oedométricos revelaram a natureza estruturada de solo e a dificuldade de determinação da tensão de pré-adensamento do solo. Os ensaios de cisalhamento direto em corpos de prova remoldados e em corpos de prova indeformados forneceram parâmetros de resistência ao cisalhamento de pico similares (ø’~25º e c’ =10 kPa). Ensaios triaxiais em corpos de prova indeformados utilizando uma trajetória de tensões com acréscimo de poropressão indicaram parâmetros de resistência ø’ =32,5º e c’ =12,5 kPa. O ângulo de atrito interno residual (ring shear) determinado neste solo foi de 9º. As análises de estabilidade realizadas mostraram que a encosta passa a apresentar instabilidade quando o nível de água no interior do maciço atinge a cota 59m acima do nível do mar. / This dissertation presents the experimental procedures and results obtained in the geotechnical characterization of a granulite residual soil involved in a landslide of a cut slope in the town of Gaspar, SC, with the objective of understanding the processes involved in such failure. This rotational extremely rapid slide involved a soil volume of around 110.000 m³ and caused the deaths of two people. The failure occurred a week after an episode of high rainfall (about 440mm in 2days). This study included the implementation of laboratory tests to determine geotechnical properties of the granulite residual soil and a simplified analysis of slope stability. The tests carried out include: physical characterization, X-ray diffraction analysis, compressibility, expansibility, hydraulic conductivity, and shear strength tests: ring shear, direct shear and triaxial CIU type with special stress path on undisturbed and remolded specimens. This soil has a sandy-silt texture, with the clay size (approximately 15%) composed mainly of kaolinite. Microscopic analyses showed that most of the clay minerals are in the form of silt size blocks. These blocks suffer disintegration when subjected to mechanical shear. The residual soil has a low coefficient of hydraulic conductivity (10-7 to 10- 8 m/s) and the tests showed a reduction of about one order of magnitude of the coefficient as the confining stress was the increased up to 400 kPa. The oedometer tests revealed the structured nature of soil and the difficulty of determining the preconsolidation pressure. Direct shear tests on remolded and undisturbed samples revealed similar peak shear strength parameters (ø'~25°, c' =10 kPa). Strength parameters of ø'= 32,5° and c' = 12,5 kPa were obtained in triaxial tests on undisturbed samples following a stress path that lead the soil to failure by increase of pore pressure. The angle of internal friction at residual condition (ring shear) of this soil was 9°. The stability analysis carried out showed that the slope becomes unstable when the water level within the slope reaches the elevation of 59m above sea level.