Long-term field observation of sediment consolidation process in Yellow River Delta, China

Based on the field tests on the tidal flat of Diaokou delta-lobe from April 2004 to June 2009, the consolidation process of rapidly deposited sediments in the Yellow River Delta is studied. It is found that after the sediment is deposited, its strength increases linearly, and its pore water pressure dissipation curve accords with the index model, and in 5 days, the soil is over-consolidated. Along the depth direction, strength layering phenomenon appeares and comes to be heteropical gradually. And then under the action of the hydrodynamics and the self-weight stress, the soil strength exhibits a trend of growth-reduction-growth, and along the depth, heterogeneity is improved. This study, for the first time, reveals the rapid consolidation properties of the Yellow River sediment into the sea as well as the changing rules of sediment strength with the time and space inhomogeneity.