In situ detection and characterisation of fluid mud and soft cohesive sediments by dynamic piezocone penetrometer testing

This thesis presents a novel approach to in situ characterise and classify soft consolidated mud as a function of fluid saturation and to detect fluid mud in its natural environment. A dynamic piezocone penetrometer with pore pressure sensors (CPTU) was deployed in the marine environment of the western Baltic Sea and in the tidally influenced Ems estuary (Germany) to measure in situ strength and pore pressure of the mud types. Additionally this thesis outlines laboratory results about the relationship of the rheological behaviour of natural fluid mud to different parameters to provide substantial validation for numerical modelling studies. The findings will also help to understand the interaction between the newly applied in situ detection technique and the behaviour of fluid mud suspensions which has to be investigated further.