CONSOLIDATION TEST
Pressure ~ Deformation Curve
Pressure ~ Deformation curve
i. Cc (Compression index)
Porous
ii. Cr (Recompression index) Stones
iii. aV (Coefficient of compressibility)
iv. mV (Coefficient of volume change)
SOIL
Deformations plotted in terms of void ratio (e)
• Void ratio ~ pressure plot (e ~ p plot)
• Void ratio ~ log of pressure (e ~ log p plot)
1
e ~ log p’ (e ~ log σv0’) PLOT
Recompression Curve
e
Cr
1
Virgin Compression Line
(VCL)
Cc
1 Cc: compression index
Cr: recompression index
(or swelling index)
Cr 1
Rebound
Curve
l
o
g 2
PRE-CONSOLIDATION PRSSSURE
p’ = pre-consolidation pressure
e
Cr
1
maximum effective stress
experienced by soil in past.
Cc
Cr 1
σp’ log p’ (or log σV’)
3
STRESS HISTORY
Normally Consolidated Soil
If the present effective stress (σv0’) in the clay
is the greatest stress it has ever experienced in
its history.
i.e., pre-consolidation pressure (σp’) ≈
present effective stress (σv0’)
(σp’) ≈ 10% of (σv0’) ≈ σVO’
Today
1,000 years ago
5,000 years ago
10,000 years ago
30,000 years ago
80,000 years ago
CLAY
100,000 years ago
4
STRESS HISTORY
Over Consolidated Soil
If the present effective stress (σv0’) in the
clay is smaller than the effective stress
experienced in the past.
i.e., pre-consolidation pressure (σp’) >
present effective stress (σv0’)
18,000 years ago
σVO’
ICE AGE Today
5,000 years ago
20,000 years ago
30,000 years ago
80,000 years ago
CLAY
100,000 years ago 5
STRESS HISTORY
Over Consolidated Soil
If the present effective stress (σv0’) in the
clay is smaller than the effective stress
experienced in the past.
i.e., pre-consolidation pressure (σp’) >
present effective stress (σv0’)
σVO’
Today
5,000 years ago
20,000 years ago
30,000 years ago
80,000 years ago
CLAY
100,000 years ago 6
STRESS HISTORY
Over Consolidation Ratio (OCR)
σ'p
OCR σ'v0
σv0’= present effective overburden pressure
σp’= pre-consolidation pressure
(maximum pressure in past)
Normally consolidated soils → OCR = 1
Over-consolidated soils → OCR > 1
Under-consolidated soils → OCR < 1
7
Determination of Pre-Consolidation Pressure (σp’)
(Casagrande’s Method)
Steps:
1. Mark the point of maximum
e
curvature (point ‘A’).
A B
θ 2. Draw a horizontal line from
θ/2 ‘A’.
3. Draw a tangent to the curve
at point ‘A’.
θ/2 4. Bisect the angle ‘θ’.
5. Extend the straight line
portion of virgin
compression curve
backward.
6. The pressure corresponding
to point of intersection ‘B’ is
the pre-consolidation
σp' pressure (σp').
log p’ (or log σV’)
8
SETTLEMENT COMPUTATIONS
Settlement in Field
GL
H
GL
saturated clay saturated clay
e = eo Ho
e = eo - e
Time = 0+ Time =
H
Average vertical strain, εf =
Ho
9
SETTLEMENT COMPUTATIONS
Settlement in Lab (Consolidation Test)
Consider a soil element where Vs = 1 initially.
e
V Vv= e o
e 1V
Time = 0+ Time =
e
Average vertical strain, εL =
1 o
10
SETTLEMENT COMPUTATIONS
Field Laboratory
For an undisturbed soil specimen.
εf = εL e
S C H Ho 1
o
H e where, e
Ho 1
SC = Consolidation settlement in the field
eo
11
SETTLEMENT COMPUTATIONS
Ways to estimate consolidation settlement:
(a) Using mv
Consolidation settlement, Sc = mv . . H
H
mV aV
1
e
(b) Using e-log v’ plot
eo, vo’, Cc, Cr, p’, mv next slide
e
oedometer test settlement Sc H
1 o
e
12
SETTLEMENT COMPUTATIONS
CASE I: ’p < ’vo < ’vf
If the clay is normally consolidated, the entire loading path is along the
VCL.
e
CC
log (vo') vo '
eo initial
vo '
VCL e Cc log
Cc ' vo '
e
1
final e
Sc H
1 o
e
’vf
p’ Cc
S c H ''
log vo '
vo’ vf ’ = vo’+ 1 o vo
e
’ 13
SETTLEMENT COMPUTATIONS
CASE II: ’vo < ’vf < ’p
If the clay is over-consolidated, and remained so by the end of consolidation.
e
Cr
log (vo') vo '
initial C r
eo 1 final ''
e e Cr log vo '
vo
VCL e
Sc H
1 o
Cc e vf
1 ’
C
vo’ p’ S c H r ''
log vo '
1 o vo
vf ’ = vo’+ e
14
SETTLEMENT COMPUTATIONS
CASE III: ’vo < ’p < ’vf
If the over-consolidated, soil becomes normally consolidated by the end of
consolidation. ’vf
p' vo '
initial e Cr log Cclog
eo
Cr vo ' ' p'
1
e
e Sc H
1 o
final
e
C
Cc S c H r log
p'
1 1 eo vo '
VCL Cc vo '
H
log
vo’ p’ 1 o
' p'
vf ’ = vo’+ e
15
CONCLUDED
16
