Study of the mechanical behavior of marls: Case from Fes - Meknes region (Morocco)

Geoexploration and Geotechnics Research Team, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, Morocco. PO Box 11201 Zitoune, Meknes, Morocco

^* Corresponding author: abdelouahed.essaied@edu.umi.ac.ma

Abstract

In relationship with urban expansion at the level of cities located in the Sais basin, several projects have been carried out and others still in progress. Therefore, the recognition of the mechanical characteristics of soils and subsoil remains essential before any construction project, in order to avoid the shrinkage-swelling phenomenon associated with marls soil. In order to minimize the risk of instability, the present work consists of the characterization and study of the mechanical behavior of marly soils in some locations of Sais basin. In-situ tests have been performed in the field and samples submitted to other geotechnical tests in the laboratory such as the odometer compressibility and direct shear tests. The obtained results show that the studied marly soils exhibit strongly consolidated behaviors with the depth according to Menard test, and to the ratio of the pressiometric modulus (EM) and the corrected limit pressure (PL*).