Modeling parameters of structured clays as a multivariate normal distribution

Abstract

This study explores the possibility of modeling liquidity index, undrained shear strength, remolded undrained shear strength, preconsolidation stress, and vertical effective stress of structured clays (sensitive or quick clays) as a multivariate normal distribution. The literature is replete with correlation equations between two soil parameters. Consistent synthesis of more than two soil parameters through construction of a multivariate probability distribution function is rare, despite obvious practical usefulness of such an approach. This study compiles a large database of structured clays to construct the multivariate probability distribution among the aforementioned five soil parameters. This multivariate distribution is then used to simulate the correlations between soil parameters of interest and to derive useful equations for Bayesian inference. This constructed multivariate distribution and equations are further validated by another independent database of structured clays as well as by empirical equations proposed in the literature.