løsmassene

Løsmassene, literally "loose materials," is a term used in Norwegian and Danish geology and geotechnical engineering for unconsolidated earth deposits that overlie bedrock. They include soils and sediments that have not undergone lithification and can vary widely in composition, texture, groundwater content, and thickness. Løsmassene form through weathering, erosion, and deposition, and their properties change with moisture and loading.

Classification: They are typically divided into cohesive and non-cohesive materials. Cohesive: clays and silts; non-cohesive: sands and gravels. They are also grouped by origin: fluvial (river), glacial (till and outwash), glaciofluvial, lacustrine (lake), marine, aeolian (wind-blown), or colluvial (downslope). Organic deposits such as peat are common in wetlands.

Engineering properties: Løsmassene have higher porosity and variable permeability. Strength, stiffness and settlement depend on grain size, density, water content, and effective stress. They are studied with soil investigations (sampling, SPT or CPT tests, laboratory tests) to estimate bearing capacity, settlement, and potential liquefaction. They are prone to settlement, slope instability, and liquefaction under seismic loading and rapid loading changes.

Applications: Accurate characterization of løsmassene is essential for foundations, excavations, earthworks, and groundwater and environmental assessments. Their thickness and stratification influence construction depth and design decisions.