Title: Determination of the one-dimensional consolidation properties.

General
One-dimensional consolidation test is to determine the time & load dependent compression
characteristics of soil that is compressing only in vertical direction without deforming laterally.
Based on the laboratory-derived parameters, field settlement behaviour (i.e. the rate and
magnitude of the settlement) in the fine-grained soil layer that is subjected to one-dimensional
loading can be predicted. The test results are used to study the different compression
characteristics of soil that are divided into the primary and secondary compression phases. As the
soil structure memorizes the past stress history, the difference in compression characteristic can
be used to analyse the stress history of tested soil.
Objective:
To determine the consolidation parameters of a fine-grained soil.
Standard Reference:
British Standard 1377- Part 5: Compressibility, permeability and
durability tests.
Apparatus:
1. Consolidation apparatus (oedometer)
2. Ancillary items
a) A timing device readable to 1s
b) A supply of water at room temperature
c) A watch glass, or metal tray, larger in
diameter than the consolidation ring.
d) A balance readable to 0.1g

Preparation of Specimen:
1. The test specimen shall be in the form of a disc of proportion specified for consolidation
ring in which it is to be tested. The mean diameter of the largest particle shall not exceed
one fifth of the height of the ring.
2. The specimen is placed in its ring on the watch glass or tray and is weighted immediately
to 0.1g. The initial mass of the specimen, mo is determined.
3. The soil-filled consolidation ring is placed in the consolidation cell. The soil specimen is
sandwiched between two filter papers and porous stones, with the bottom stone is fixed to
the consolidation cell, while the top stone is fixed to the loading cap.
4. The consolidation cell is filled with water and the cell is placed in the load frame.
5. The deformation indicators (dial gauges) is positioned and zeroed.
Test Procedures:
1. The soil specimen is incrementally loaded. A range of pressure selected from the following
sequence has been found to be satisfactory: 20kN/m2, 40kN/m2, 80kN/m2. A typical test
comprises three increments of loading, each held constant for 30minutes, and each applied
stress being double that of the previous stage.
2. Loading:
a) The deformation gauge reading is recorded as the initial reading.
b) The required pressure is applied to the specimen by adding the appropriate weights to the
beam hanger. The weight used for the seating load is removed.
c) Readings of the compression gauge are taken at suitable intervals of time. The following
periods of elapsed time are convenient: 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 15,
20, 25, 30 minutes.
d) The compression gauge readings are plotted against logarithm time, or square root time,
while the test is in progress, either manually or by means of an automatic recorder.
e) The pressure is maintained until the primary consolidation has been completed. A period
of 24 hours under one pressure is generally adequate but this shall be verified from the
plot.

f) The time and compression gauge reading are recorded at the termination of the first load
increment stage. This reading becomes the initial reading for the next stage.
g) The pressure to the next value in the selected sequence is increased, as described in step
(b) and repeat step (d) to (g). The maximum pressure applied to the specimen shall be
greater than the effective pressure which will occur in situ due to the overburden and
proposed construction.
3. Dismantling:
a) The water from the cell is drained off. The porous placed are allowed standing for 15min
to enable free water to drain from it.
b) Any excess water from the within the cell is moped up.
c) The load from the specimen is removed and the consolidation cell is removed from the
apparatus.
d) The cell is dismantled; the specimen in its ring is weighed on the weighed watch glass or
tray.
e) The specimen and ring on the watch glass or tray are transferred to the oven maintained
at 105oC to 110oC, the specimen is dried to constant mass and the dry mass of the
specimen 0.1g (md) is determined.

Results:
Initial specimen height,

H o=

D=

Specimen diameter,

Area of the specimen,

18.03+18.01+19.02
19.03 mm
3

50.28+50.37+50.19
50.28 mm
3

A= r 2=

D
50.28
=
=1985.55 mm2
2
2

( ) (

A=19.86 c m 2

Mass of wet soil and consolidation ring 0.1674 kg

Mass of consolidation ring 0.0997 kg
Mass of wet soil,

mo=0.16740.0997=0.0677 kg

Mass of pan and wet soil 0.0992 kg

Mass of pan and dry soil 0.08286 kg
Mass of pan 0.0344
Mass of wet soil,

mf =0.09920.0344=0.0648 kg

Mass of dry soil,

mdf =0.082860.0344=0.0485 kg

I) Calculations:
1) General Data
a) Initial moisture content, wo (in %)

wo =
=

mo mdf
mdf

x 100%

0.06480.0 485
0.0 485

x 100% = 33.61%

b) Initial bulk density, (inMg/m3)

=

mo x 1000
A Ho
64.8 g x 1000
19 85.55 mm2 x 1 9.03 mm

= 1.715Mg/m3
Where
Mo = the initial mass of specimen (in g)
A = the area of the specimen ( in mm)
Ho = the initial height of the specimen (in mm)

c) Initial dry density,d (inMg/m3)

100
d = 100+ wo

100(1.7 15)
100+ 0.3361

= 1.709 Mg/m3
d) Initial void ratio, eo,
Where ps is the particle density (in Mg/m); Particle density,
eo =

s
d

s =2.6500

2.6500
1.709

= 0.551
2) Compression, Cc and recompression, Cr indexes
a) The compression and recompression indexes may be illustrated by plotting the void ratio,
e versus applied pressure, p on a logarithmic scale (i.e e log p curve).
b) Calculate the voids ratios and compressibility data as follow.
- Calculate the equivalent height of solid particles, Hs (in mm), from the equation :

H s=

19.03
1+0.551
H s=12.27 mm
OR
Ws
=2.65 g/cm 3
Vs
64.8
3
=2.65 g /cm
Vs
Vs

3
= 24.45 cm

H s=

V s 24.45
=
=1.285 cm=12.85 mm
A 19. 03

c) Calculate the height of the specimen, H ( in mm), at the end of each loading stage from
the equation:
Where
H is the cumulative deformation of the specimen ( reduction in height) from
initial height as recorded by the compression gauge
When P = 40kPa, H = 0.44mm
H = 19.03-0.44 = 18.59mm
When P = 80kPa, H = 0.41mm
H = 18.59-0.41 = 18.18mm
When P = 160kPa, H = 0.60mm
H = 18.18-0.60 = 17.58mm
d) Calculate the voids ratio, e, at the end of each loading from the equation:
; Hs = 12.85mm
When P = 20kPa, H = 18.900
e=

18.5912.85
=0.447
12.85

When P = 40kPa, H = 18.798

e=

18.1812.85
=0.415
12.85

When P = 80kPa, H = 18.658

e=

17.5812.85
=0.368
12.85

Stress,P

Dial gauge

Height of

(kPa)

reading, H (mm)
0.030
0.102
0.140

sample,H (mm)
18.59
18.18
17.58

40
80
160

Void ratio, e
0.447
0.415
0.368

Graph of void ratio against pressure

0.47
0.45
0.43

Void Ratio, e

0.41
0.39
0.37
0.35
1

10

Pressure kPa

100

Base on the graph above, the

e 1=0.4 26 ,

e2

= 0.366,

P1

= 42kPa,

P2

= 80kPa

e) Calculate the compression index, Cc from the equation:

e 1e 2

cc=

log

cc=

P2
P1

( )

0. 4260.366
1. 9031. 623
Cc = 0.214

By using Csagrandes graphical method, the preconsolidation stress,

P'c is determined.

P'c =42 kPa

3) Coefficient of consolidation, Cv
Two curve fitting method are recognized for evaluating the coefficient of consolidation, Cv
namely the logarithm-of-time curve fitting method and the square root time curve-fitting
method.
II) Test Data:
a) Compression Indexes Data Sheet
Initial specimen height, Ho = 19.03mm
Specimen diameter, D = 50.28mm
Initial specimen mass, mo = 0.0677kg
Final specimen mass, mf = 0.0648kg
Final dry specimen mass, mdf = 0.0485kg
Specific gravity, Gs =2.65
Initial moisture content, wo = 33.61%
Initial bulk density, = 1.715Mg/m3

Initial dry density, d = 1.709Mg/m3

Initial void ratio, eo = 0.551
Equivalent height of solid particles, Hs = 12.85mm

b) Coefficient of Consolidation Data Sheet

For P= 40kN/m2
time,s

time,s^1/2
6
15
20
30
40
45
60
90
120
180
240
360
480
600
720
840
960
1080

settlement (mm)
2.45
3.87
4.47
5.48
6.32
6.71
7.75
9.49
10.95
13.42
15.49
18.97
21.91
24.49
26.83
28.98
30.98
32.86

0.1
0.13
0.15
0.16
0.175
0.18
0.2
0.225
0.25
0.285
0.315
0.36
0.385
0.405
0.42
0.43
0.435
0.44

For P= 80kN/m2
time,s

time,s^1/2
6
15
20
30
40
45
60
90
120
180
240
360
480
600
720

settlement (mm)
2.45
3.87
4.47
5.48
6.32
6.71
7.75
9.49
10.95
13.42
15.49
18.97
21.91
24.49
26.83

0.08
0.1
0.115
0.13
0.145
0.15
0.165
0.195
0.22
0.255
0.285
0.325
0.355
0.375
0.39

840
960
1080

28.98
30.98
32.86

0.4
0.405
0.41

For P= 160kN/m2
time,s

time,s^1/2
6
15
20
30
40
45
60
90
120
180
240
360
480
600
720
840
960
1080

settlement (mm)
2.45
3.87
4.47
5.48
6.32
6.71
7.75
9.49
10.95
13.42
15.49
18.97
21.91
24.49
26.83
28.98
30.98
32.86

Coefficient of consolidation, cv
cv=

T v H 2dr
; where H dr is thelength of the drainage path .
t 90
0.848 H 2dr
cv=
t 90

For P= 40kN/m2,
Find t90,

0.105
0.14
0.155
0.18
0.205
0.215
0.24
0.285
0.32
0.38
0.42
0.485
0.525
0.55
0.57
0.58
0.59
0.6

0.00
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
0.45
0.5

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00