Characterisation of the Kilmuckridge geotechnical test site

The paper describes the characterisation of a test site in an active sand quarry located near Kilmuckridge, County Wexford, Ireland. Two test areas have been selected in this 47-acre sand and gravel quarry, approximately 150 m apart. Test Area A covers an area of approximately 3100 m², and Area B is approximately 1500 m². Both test areas are over-consolidated with dense to very dense deposits; Area A has slightly gravelly sand to silty sand layers, and Area B is primarily sandy silt. A series of pile lateral and axial load tests are planned at the two sites. In Area A, CPT cone tip resistance q_c values up to 60 MPa were recorded in the top 2 m, with the values dropping to approximately 20 MPa in deeper layers below 2 m. The paper presents the results from in situ cone penetration tests, geotechnical laboratory characterisation tests on disturbed samples, and chemical characterisation analyses. Shear box tests and drained monotonic triaxial tests were performed on reconstituted sand samples to investigate the shear strength.