COMPRESSION AND THEORY OF SOIL CONSOLIDATION

Problem No1
Consolidation Settlement from Oedometer test data
Result from a consolidation test on a clay sample for a pressure
increment of 100kPa 200kPa were

Sample
thickness (mm)
Time (mins) Sample
thickness (mm)
Time (mins)
12.2 0 11.865 25
12.141 1/4 11.827 36
12.108 1 11.809 49
12.075 9/4 11.80 64
12.046 4
11.985 9
11.922 16

Determine the coefficient of consolidation of the soil.
How long would a layer, of this clay, 10m thick and drained on its top
surface only, take to reach 75% consolidation?
If the void ratio at the beginning and end of the increment were 0.94 and
0.82 respectively, determine the value of the coefficient of permeability.

Plot thickness vs time curve, and determine t
90
.;
assuming t = 6.54 , t = 42.7min
The point of intersection of the 1.15x Line with the thickness axis is the
corrected initial (effective) thickness of the sample (a value less than
12.2);
Assuming effective thickness = 12.168mm.
The mean thickness of the sample during consolidation
= (12.168 + 11.8)/ 2 = 11.984mm.
11.8mm corresponds to the end of consolidation.
The effective drainage path of the oedometer
Hdr = 11.984/2 = 5.992mm
C
v
= T
90
H
2
/t
90

T
90
= 0.848 or 0.85 (tables in Coduto and Das)
C
v
= 0.85 (5.992)
2
/42.7 = 0.715mm
2
/min

(ii) For U = 75%, T = 0.48 (table)
Drainage path length for the field stratum = 10m (drained on top only)
Time to reach75% consolidation = [0.48 (10000)
2
]/ [0.715(60)(24)(365)]
= 128yrs

(iii)







PROBLEM No2

A stratified soil profile shown in fig1. If a uniformly distributed load ,
is applied at the ground surface, what is the settlement of a clay layer
caused by primary consolidation if
(a) The clay is normally consolidated
(b) The preconsolidation pressure = 190kPa
(c)
c
= 170 kPa.


100kPa 100kPa 100kPa


Ground Surface





Fig 1


dry
= 14.0kN/m
3

2.0m
Sand (SM)
4.0m
sat
= 18.0kN/m
3 Dr = 40 %


sat
= 19kN/m
3

4.0m Clay, LL = 40, e = 0.8



SOLUTION

The coefficients or indices of settlement Cc and (Cs or Cr) are not given, nor graphical loading
and unloading e logP relation from which slope estimates may be made.

The following Compressibility Liquid Limit correlations are available

Cc = 0.009 (LL 10). (Prof Skempton 1944)
Cc = 0.2343 G
s |
.
|

\
|
100
(%) LL
(Nagaraj and Murty 1985)
Another estimate for low and medium clay is expressed thus
Cc = 6Cs (Prof Braja Das 2008)

The Clay layer is 4.0m and may not be divided into smaller layers, however there are benefits of
finite element nature.
The average effective stress at the middle of the clay layer is





o = 2dry + 4[sat sand w] + 4/2[satclay + ]
= 2(14) + 4(18 9.81) + 2(19 9.81) = 79.14 kN/m
2

This is the effective overburden stress before 100kPa was loaded

For (a) when the clay is normally consolidated

Consolidation Settlement = |
.
|

\
|
+
o
o
e
H C
1
log
|
|
.
|

\
|
'
' A +
'
o
o o
o
o o
100


Cc = 0.009(LL 10) = 0.009 (40 100) = 0.27 and Cr =0.27/6
Cons Settlement = |
.
|

\
|
+ 8 . 0 1
0 . 4 27 . 0 x
Log |
.
|

\
| +
14 . 79
100 14 . 79
= 213mm

For (b)
Final effective stress = 78.14 + 100 = 179.14 kPa
Preconsolidation stress = 190 kPa
Notice that the Final effective stress is close to, but less than the Preconsolodation stress,
However the final effective pressure is still within the recompression zone (Coduto) or swelling
zone (Das), implying that the clay can swell under the pressure of 179.14 kPa if the profile is
very active, ie high PI.

Cons Settlement = |
.
|

\
|
+
o
r
e
H C
1
log
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
'
' A +
'
o
o
o
o o
= 36mm

For (c) where the preconsolidation stress is 170, and the final effective
stress is 179.14
Use |
.
|

\
|
+
o
r
e
H C
1
log
|
|
.
|

\
|
'
'
o
c
o
o
+ |
.
|

\
|
+
o
c
e
H C
1
log
|
|
.
|

\
|
'
' A +
'
c
o o
o
o o

= 0.045(4)/1.8 x Log (170/79.14) + 0.27(4)/1.8 x Log (179.14/170)
= 46.8mm
Notice the slight but real increase in cons settlement from 36mm to
45.8mm.





Secondary Consolidation Problem
Problem No3

For a normally consolidated clay layer in the field, the following values
are given
Thickness of the clay layer = 2.6m
Void ratio = 0.8
Compression index (Cc) = 0.28
Average effective overburden pressure on the clay layer = 127kPa
= 46.5kPa
Secondary compression index = C
a
= 0.02

What is the total consolidation settlement of the clay layer five years
after the completion of primary consolidation settlement? If the time for
the completion of primary settlement is = 1.5years

Ca = Ca /(1+e
p
)
e
p
= e
o
- e(primary)
e = Cc log
|
|
.
|

\
|
'
' A +
'
c
o o
o
o o
= 0.28 log
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
'
127
5 . 46 127
= 0.038
Primary consolidation = e H /(1+eo) = 54.9mm
e
p
= 0.8 0.038 = 0.762
Ca= 0.02/(1+0.762) = 0.011
Complete

Question 11.11

This Problem Illustrate the influence of Stress Superpositions on the Ultimate
Compressibility (Magnitude of Total Settlement)

For sample location A
Effective vertical stress (this is the effective overburden stress at depths
before external loading)

zo = 14 (3.0) + 17.5 (2.1) + 13.5 (4.2) - 9.8 (6.3) = 74 kPa

Preconsolidation (c) stress must be determined graphically from e log P or
determined apriori and given.

c = 75 kPa(given) and o = 74kPa , Here the preconsolidation stress is
greater than the effective overburden, thus the layer is taken as normally
consolidated ( 20% Coduto)

At Position B

zo
= 91kPa;
c
= 100kPa ; Soil is normally consolidated.

For the proposed fill
The fill was placed and compacted to 92% relative compaction, to a moisture
content of 13%. Thus the bulk unit weight of this fill (inclusive of the moisture
content)
Final Compacted Bulk density = C
R

dmax
(1+w)
= 0.92*19.4*(1+0.13) =20.2 kN/m
3


The contact pressure induced by the fill on the ground surface is
fill = fill Hfill = 20.2 x 4.0 = 80.8kPa , This pressure will induce a constant
surcharge effect at any depth within the soil profile.

Final (induced) effective stress at any depth

zf
=
zo
+
fill
H
fill
=
zo
+ 20.4* (4)
Zo + 80.8
Zo + 81 kPa

Cc/1+e
o
= silty sand = table 113 ( 0.012 + 0.014)/2
Cc/1+e
o
= soft clay = 0.59/(1+1.9) , medium clay = 0.37/( 1+1.21)

Layer H At mid
stratum
At mid
stratum
Cc/1+e
o

c ult

(m) (m)
zo

zf
Cc/1+e
o
(m)


1 3.0 21 102 0.013 0.03
2 2.1 50 131 0.013 0.01
3 3.0 64 145 0.2 (.203) 0.21
4 3.0 75 156 0.2(.203) 0.19
5 3.1 88 169 0.17(.167) 0.15
0.59m

Layer 1 and 2, contributed the least to the ultimate value of 590mm, this is due to
Layer 3 and 4 contributed most to the ultimate value of 590mm, due to the lower
value of = 13.5.
For a normally consolidated profile, Layer 3 contributed most and Layer 5, due to
the decreasing effect of (
zf /

zo
) and the increasing effect of
zo
.

CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT

Coduto Example 12.2

The effect of drainage length on excess pore water pressure profile, illustrated in
Coduto example 12.2 is here extended to the case where permeable boundaries are
such that only vertical upwards drainage is permitted


Depth
from
original
ground
surface
Soil Uh = wzw zdr zdr/Hdr
Ue/z For z
=68.9,

Ue
U = Uh
+ Ue
0 0
1 0
2 SM 0
3 0
4 9.8 9.8
5 19.6 0 0 0 0 19.6
6 29.4 1 0.1 0.06 4.134 33.53
7 39.2 2 0.2 0.12 4.268 47.46
8 49.0 3 0.18 0.18 12.402 61.4
9 CH 58.8 4 0.4 0.23 15.847 74.64
10 68.6 5 0.5 0.30 20.67 89.27
11 78.4 6 0.6 0.38 26.18 104.58
12 98.0 8 0.8 0.58 39.96 137.96
14 107.8 9 0.9 0.76 52.36 160.16
15 117.6 10 1.0 1.00 68.9 186.5
16 127.4 11 127.4
17 ML 137.2 12 137.2

If the drainage is impeded at the base of medium clay to effect vertical upward drainage,
then the porewater pressure at 16m and 17m = 0 and not 127.4 and 137.4kPa and thus the
sandy silt (ML) layer is treated as an impermeable layer.
No information is provided on the void ratio and silt content of the the silty sand, thus it is
assumed that total pore pressure from 4m depth to the water surface at 3m depth is linear.






QUESTIONS IN ULTIMATE COMPRESSION AND COMPRESSIBILITY

MODEL QUESTION

A site for the expansion of Helen Joseph Hospital is underlain by the soil profile
shown in Fig 1. The entire soil profile is normally consolidated and the water table
is 3m from the ground surface.
The profile would be preloaded with 4.0m thick fill. The Proctor max dry unit
weight of the fill is 19.0 kN/m
3
and the optimum moisture content is 10.0%. The
fill must be compacted at optimum moisture content to an average relative
compaction of 93%. The only consolidation data available is from a test conducted
by a Commercial Lab on a sample taken from Point A. The test result is as follow;
C
c
=0.35, C
r
=0.11
Determine (a) the ultimate consolidation settlement due to the weight of this fill (b)
the pre consolidation stress, (c) the ultimate consolidation settlement due to the
weight of this fill if the relative density of the entire silty sand stratum is 99.2%





Ground Surface





Fig 1


DENSE TILL AND ROCK FORMATION














= 16.0kN/m
3

3m
Silty Sand (SM)
3.5m = 17.0kN/m
3 Dr = 40 %

2m Gs = 2.8, w =40%, = 15.0 kN/m
3

3.5m A* Soft Clay

HOME WORK

A commercial site in East Rand is underlain by the soil profile shown in Fig 1. The
silty sand stratum is normally consolidated and the water table is 3m from the
ground surface.
A 4.0m thick fill with a dry unit weight of 19.0 kN/m
3
and an optimum moisture
content of 10.0% is to be placed. This fill will be compacted at optimum moisture
content to an average relative compaction of 93%. The only consolidation data
available is from a test conducted by a commercial Lab on a sample taken from
Point A. This test result is as follow as; C
c
=0.35, C
r
=0.11, e
o
=1.23,
c
=100kPa.
(a) Determine the ultimate consolidation settlement due to the weight of this fill.
(b) Penetrometer test conducted by 3
rd
Year students on this site revealed that at a
depth where the vertical effective stress is 91 kPa, the SPT (N
1
)
60
= 19 and C
ocr
=1.0. If the soil is about 150yrs old and sieve test on sample taken from the depth
where the vertical effective stress is 91 kPa, indicated D
50
= 1.05. Assess the
quality of data presented by the students.







Ground Surface





Fig 1





Dense Till







= 14.0kN/m
3

3m
Silty Sand (SM)
3.5m = 17.0kN/m
3 Dr = 40 %

= 18kN/m
3

3.5m Fine Sand(SP))
Dr = 50 %

2.0m = 15.5kN/m
3

3.3m A* Soft Clay (CH)