Correlating in-situ test results for Dubai and Abu Dhabi biogenic calcareous sands

The paper examines SPT, CPT, and Seismic down- hole tests (DHT) data, collected from two relatively young biogenic calcareous sand deposits at Dubai and Abu Dhabi sites, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Tested materials consist mainly of fine to medium low plasticity silty sands. The analysis of test results highlights that most of the existing correlations between individual test data established for silica sands are not applicable to calcareous sands owing to grain crushability and related high compressibility of the latter ones. Modifications to the above mentioned correlations have been suggested to allow them to be applied with more confidence to calcareous sands. However, their reliability can be jeopardized by the spatial variability of test data, that is significant even at a local scale. Finally, the results obtained in the present study were compared with those gathered in other geotechnical investigations carried out in the same area, obtaining satisfactory agreement.