A study of the strength characteristics of marine sediments utilizing a submersible: A. L. Inderbitzen and F. SimpsonASTM Spec. Techn. Publ. No. STP 501, 204–215 (1972)

One of the tasks of the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company's submersible Deep Quest has been to obtain detailed information on the strength characteristics of the sea floor. Continuing projects, carried out with a corer and a vane shear machine mounted on the submersible, are a comparison of in-place and laboratory vane shear strength values and an investigation of the lateral and vertical variability of in-place shear strength. The area being investigated for these projects is approximately 13 nautical miles southwest of San Diego, Calif., on the floor of the San Diego Trough at a depth of 4050 ft. Because the projects are still incomplete, no definitive conclusions can be made. However, initial results indicate inconsistencies in the difference between in-place and laboratory vane shear strength values. Lateral variability between in-place vane shear strength measurements does not appear to be related to distance test locations. Vertical variability in in-place vane shear strength values appears to decrease with depth into the sediment.