A microstructural investigation of Osaka Bay clay: the impact of microfossils on its mechanical behaviour

Abstract

A recent microstructural investigation of Osaka Bay clay sediments has revealed the presence of abundant microfossils, particularly in the marine layers, which appear to influence directly the microstructural framework of the sediments and eventually its geotechnical behaviour. The microfossils act as a structural component which provides a high compressibility when most of the interaggregate pore space is closed. In addition, they can introduce some bias on the measurements of physicochemical properties.Key words: microstructure, porosimetry, Atterberg's limits, compressibility, mineralogy, microfossils.