ABSTRACT
Fluvial sand is a soil type commonly encountered during the construction of the North East MRT Line (NEL) Project in Singapore. A laboratory study was conducted to characterize the engineering properties of the fluvial sand. Sand samples were taken from Contract 706 of the NEL Project along the Race Course Road. The in-situ density of the sands was measured before sampling. The basic physical properties and the coefficients of permeability of the sand at different densities were determined. Direct shear and triaxial tests were conducted to determine the shear strength and the drained and undrained behaviour of the sand at different densities. The properties determined by laboratory tests were compared with those based on SPT results. The relevancy of the engineering properties to the design and construction of tunnels and excavations is also discussed.
