812003734

Aaron Rampersad

CVNG 3006 CW#1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 OBJECTIVES.1

2.0 COMPUTATIONS.1
2.1. PORE PRESSURE.1
2.1.1.

Single Top Drainage

2.1.2.

Single Bottom Drainage

2.1.3.

Double Drainage

2.2. AVERAGE DEGREE OF CONSOLIDATION.2

2.3. STABILITY FACTOR, R..2

812003734

Aaron Rampersad

CVNG 3006 CW#1

TABLE OF FIGURES

Figure
Graph 1
Graph 2
Graph 3

Title
Showing R = 0.51 for Single Top Drainage
Showing R = 0.51 for Single Bottom Drainage
Showing R = 0.51 for Double Drainage

Page
2
3
3

812003734

Aaron Rampersad

CVNG 3006 CW#1

1.0 OBJECTIVES
To develop a computer solution in Excel and MATLAB to implement the numerical
finite difference solution for a 1-D Consolidation equation.

2.0 COMPUTATIONS

2.1.

PORE PRESSURE

The numerical programs are entitled Finite_Difference_1DConsol.m which is the

MATLAB program and Aaron_Finite_Difference_1DConsol.xls which is the Excel
program. Both of which are initially computed for a stability value, R = 0.5.

2.1.1. Single Top Drainage

Using the following governing equations:

For z=0, pore pressure = 0 kN/m2

For z=16m, pore pressure is obtainable by applying the boundary conditions:

U (i , k+1 )=R 2 ( U ( i1,k )U (i ,k ) ) +U (i , k )

For all other Nodes:

U (i , k+1 )=R ( U ( i+1,k )2 U (i , k ) +U (i1,k ) ) +U (i , k )

2.1.2. Single Bottom Drainage

Using the following governing equations:

For z=0, pore pressure is obtained by applying the boundary conditions:

U (i , k+1 )=R 2 ( U ( i+1,k )2 U (i , k ) ) +U (i , k )

For z=16m, pore pressure = 0 kN/m2

For all other Nodes:

U (i , k+1 )=R ( U ( i+1,k )2 U (i , k ) +U (i1,k ) ) +U (i , k )

2.1.3. Double Drainage

For z=0 and z=6, pore pressure,

For all other Nodes:

( U ( i ,k+1 ) )=0

1|Page

812003734

Aaron Rampersad

CVNG 3006 CW#1

U (i , k+1 )=R ( U ( i+1,k )2 U (i , k ) +U (i1,k ) ) +U (i , k )

2.2.

AVERAGE DEGREE OF CONSOLIDATION

Since z=0.2, then the area of each segment can be obtained by the trapezoidal rule:

U Area =z ( U (i , k ) +U (i +1,k ) )

U=

1
2

To find D.O.C. at that particular time step we can use the following equation:
U 0U Area
100
U0
Where U0= fully consolidated area of soil i.e. (16m x 100kN/m2)

2.3.

STABILITY FACTOR, R

In the both aforementioned programs, R, the stability factor can be changed to yield
different stabilities of the finite difference computations. For values of R = 0.25, 0.35, 0.45
and 0.5, the stability remained relatively stable with no abnormal values. However when
changed to 0.51, abnormalities were observed throughout the entire finite difference
computation which can be seen below in the graphs (which can also be obtained from the
program). This shows that there is a limiting factor of stability.

Graph 1.0 Showing R = 0.51 for Single Top Drainage

2|Page

812003734

Aaron Rampersad

CVNG 3006 CW#1

Graph 2.0 Showing R = 0.51 for Single Bottom Drainage

Graph 3.0 Showing R = 0.51 for Double Drainage

3|Page