Compressibility and Consolidation

Compressibility and Consolidation

Consolidation is the time-dependent settlement of saturated clayey soils due to the expulsion of water from the pores under an applied load.

Consolidation Settlement (ScS_c)

Normally Consolidated Clay

Soil that has never experienced a stress higher than the current effective stress (σo\sigma'_o). Sc=CcH1+eolog10(σo+Δσσo)S_c = \frac{C_c H}{1+e_o} \log_{10} \left( \frac{\sigma'_o + \Delta \sigma}{\sigma'_o} \right)

  • CcC_c: Compression Index (0.009(LL10) \approx 0.009(LL-10)).
  • HH: Thickness of clay layer.
  • eoe_o: Initial void ratio.
  • σo\sigma'_o: Initial effective overburden pressure.
  • Δσ\Delta \sigma: Increase in vertical stress.

Overconsolidated Clay

Soil that has experienced a higher stress in the past (σc>σo\sigma'_c > \sigma'_o). Case 1: σo+Δσσc\sigma'_o + \Delta \sigma \le \sigma'_c Sc=CrH1+eolog10(σo+Δσσo)S_c = \frac{C_r H}{1+e_o} \log_{10} \left( \frac{\sigma'_o + \Delta \sigma}{\sigma'_o} \right) Case 2: σo+Δσ>σc\sigma'_o + \Delta \sigma > \sigma'_c Sc=CrH1+eolog10(σcσo)+CcH1+eolog10(σo+Δσσc)S_c = \frac{C_r H}{1+e_o} \log_{10} \left( \frac{\sigma'_c}{\sigma'_o} \right) + \frac{C_c H}{1+e_o} \log_{10} \left( \frac{\sigma'_o + \Delta \sigma}{\sigma'_c} \right)

  • CrC_r: Recompression/Swell Index (typically Cc/5C_c/5 to Cc/10C_c/10).

Time Rate of Consolidation

Time Factor ($T_v$)

Tv=CvtHdr2T_v = \frac{C_v t}{H_{dr}^2}

  • CvC_v: Coefficient of consolidation.
  • tt: Time.
  • HdrH_{dr}: Length of drainage path.
    • Hdr=H/2H_{dr} = H/2 for double drainage (sand top and bottom).
    • Hdr=HH_{dr} = H for single drainage.
Step-by-Step Solution0 / 4 Problems

Start the practice problems to continue