College of Engineering

Department of Civil & Architectural Engineering

Geotechnical Engineering (CVEN 230) – B01

Spring 2020

Laboratory Test #7

CONSOLIDATION TEST (ASTM D 2435)

Submitted to Eng. Khaled Rabie

Due Date: April 26, 2020

Group 1 Members:
Student Name: ID:
Table of Contents:
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….......1

Test Objectives.…...………………………………………………………………...………....1

Part 1….…...…………………………………………………………….…………..................2

Part 2….…...…………………………………………………………….…………..................3

Part 3….…...…………………………………………………………….…………..................4

Conclusion.…………………………………...………………………………...………….......6

References …………………………………………………………...…………………...…...6

List of Tables:
Table (1) ………………………………………………………………………………............2

Table (2) ………………………………………………………………………………............3

Table (3) ………………………………………………………………………………............4

List of Graphs:
Graph (1) ………………………………………………………………………………............2

Graph (2) ………………………………………………………………………………............3

Graph (3) ………………………………………………………………………………............4

Graph (3) ………………………………………………………………………………............5

Introduction:
Consolidation tests are typically performed on a saturated cylindrical soil specimen and
are designed to measure the amount and the rate at which a sample will change in height when
subjected to load. The sample is constrained radially (normally by a steel mould or cell wall) so
that when a vertical load (stress) is applied to the sample, the vertical height will change, but the
diameter of the sample will remain constant. When a stress is applied vertically to the sample,
the sample reduces in height. This reduction in height happens as the particles of the soil are
forced closer together; the particles in general terms will dictate how much the sample changes
height. As the particles move closer together, the voids in the soil sample are reduced. This
reduction in void space causes water to be forced out of the sample. The rate at which the water
can come out of the sample dictates how fast the sample will change in height. This test is
performed to determine the magnitude and rate of volume decrease in soil specimen subjected to
different vertical pressures (stresses). From the measured data, the consolidation curve (pressure-
void ratio relationship) can be plotted. This data is useful to determine the compression index,
recompression index and the reconsolidation pressure of the soil. In addition, the data obtained
can also be used to determine the coefficient of consolidation and the coefficient of secondary
compression of the soil.

Test Objective:
 To determine the preconsolidation pressure (σc′).
 To determine, graphically, the compression and recompression indices, Cc,
Cr of this soil.
 To calculate the expected settlement due to consolidation happens under
some stresses.
 To determine the value of the Coefficient of consolidation CV for a clay
sample by log-time method and the square root time method.

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Part 1:

Table (1): Consolidation Test result.

Void Ratio vs Log (Stress)

1.2

0.8
Void Ratio , e

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
10 100 1000 10000

Log (Stress), log σ'

Graph (1): Void Ratio vs Log (Stress).

As can be seen from the above graph:

1- The preconsolidation pressure (σc′) = The log σ' value of the intersection between the
bisect (orange line) and the extension line (green line) = 60 KN/m2.

e i−e f
Compression Index ( C c )=
2- 0.755−0.65
log (σ ¿¿ f )−log ⁡(σ i )= =0.3488 ¿
log ( 1600 )−log ⁡(800)

2
 e i−e f
Recompression Index ( C r ) =
3- 1.116−1.108
log(σ ¿¿ f )−log ⁡( σ i)= =0.0266¿
log ( 50 )−log ⁡( 25)

Part 2:

Table (2): Consolidation Test result.

Void Ratio vs Log (Stress)

1.2
1
Void Ratio , e

0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
10 100 1000

Log (Stress), log σ'

Graph (2): Void Ratio vs Log (Stress).

As can be seen from the above graph:

1- The preconsolidation pressure (σc′) = The log σ' value of the intersection between the
bisect (orange line) and the extension line (green line) = 75 KN/m2.

3
 e i−ef
Compression Index ( C c )=
2- 0.77−0.73
log (σ ¿¿ f )−log ⁡(σ i )= =0.3201 ¿
log ( 400 ) −log ⁡(300)

ei −e f
Recompression Index ( C r ) =
3- 0.98−0.96
log (σ ¿¿ f )−log ⁡( σ i)= =0.0503 ¿
log ( 30 )−log ⁡( 12)

Given : H=2 m , e=0.98 , σ i=70 KN /m2 , σ f =70+180=250 KN /m2

Since σ c =75 KN / m2 >σ i =70 KN /m 2 , the soil is overconsolidated

Since σ f =250 KN /m 2 >σ c =75 KN /m 2 , the settlement can be calculated using the formula below:

σ σ
Settelment due ¿ consolidation ( S )=
H
1+e [ ()
C r log c +C c log f
σi σi ( )]
2 75 250
S=
1+0.98 [
0.0503 × log
70 ( )
+ 0.3201 log
70 ( )]
=0.18 m

Part 3:

Table (3): Consolidation Test result.

a:

Settelment vs Log (time)

0
0.2
0.4
Settelment

0.6
0.8
1 4
1.2
0.1 1 10 100

Log (time)
 Graph (3): Settlement vs Log (time).
From the graph:

t 1=0.5 , t 2=4 × t 1=4 × 0.5=2

d 100 + d 0 0.94+0.22
d 100 =0.94 ,d 0 =0.22 , d50= = =0.58
2 2

t 50=7.5 min
2
H 18.69 2
Coefficient of consolidation ( C v )=
Tv× ( )=
2
0.197 × (
2 ) =2.29 mm2 /min
t 50 7.5

b:

Settelment vs S.root (time)

0
0.2
Settelment

0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
0 2 4 5
6 8 10 12

S.root (time)
 Graph (4): settlement vs S.root (time).
From the graph:

√ t 90=6.65 ,t 90=(6.65)2=44.22 min

2
H 18.69 2
Coefficient of consolidation ( C v )=
Tv× ( )=
2
0.848 × (2 ) =1.67 mm2 /min
t 50 44.22

Conclusion:
To sum up, this test is a very fundamental test in civil engineering specially in structures
designing because it helps the engineers to estimate the magnitude and the rate for the
consolidation if is it primary or secondary settlement of a structure and as we said in the
introduction, this test is typically to performed on a saturated cylindrical soil specimen and are
designed to measure the amount and the rate at which a sample will change in height when
subjected to load. There are different cases for the consolidation such as the over consolidation
where σ i < σ c , the under consolidation where σ i > σ c and finally the normally consolidation where
σ i =σ c and for each one of them there is a different equation to find the settlement depends on the
location of σ c, σ i and σ f on the graph and this graph is a relation between log sigma and the void
ratio. Furthermore for this graph there is two slope c r which is the slope before the σ c value and
the other slope c c which is can the slope after the value of σ c these slopes are part of the
settlements equation depends on the case as shown before. After doing graph in part 2 we notice
that the soil is overconsolidated because σ i < σ c. Therefore we used this equation to find the
σ σ
settlement ( S )=
H
1+e [ () σi σi ( )]
C r log c +C c log f . Moreover, in Part 3 we have used the two graphs

(Graph 3 & 4) in order to determine the Cv at 50% and 90% consolidation. Last but not least, the
consolidation test is an important test that should be understood clearly as an engineer.

References:
1- Geotechnical Engineering Lab Manual.

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2- ASTM D 2435 - Standard Test Method for One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of
Soils.
3- SOIL MECHANICS AND FOUNDATIONS, MUNI BUDHU.