Use of Piezocone to Predict Maximum Stiffness of Venetian Soils

A comprehensive geotechnical in situ and laboratory investigation into the soils forming the Upper Quaternary basin of the Venetian Lagoon has been carried out. In addition to standard tests, measurements of shear wave velocity were performed using crosshole, seismic piezocone, bender element system, and resonant column tests. Despite the incompatible strain levels of the seismic and piezocone tests, it is shown that piezocone tip resistance and excess pore pressure can be used for a preliminary estimate of the small-strain shear modulus Gmax for the Venetian soils.