Consolidation Test

St = Si + Sc + Ss
Si = instantaneous settlement (elastic)
Sc = consolidation settlement (Rearranging particles), (time)
Ss = secondary settlement (plastic + elastic), (time)
Compressibility of soils due to (1) deformation of soil grain (small)
(2) compression of air and water in voids (small)
(3) squeezing out of water and air from the voids (Rearranging the particle packing)
Coarse material (sandy soil) deformation take place in very short time
St = Si + Sc + Ss ( Sc 0, Ss 0 ) (due to high permeability).
Elastic theory can apply to find settlement ( = / )
Fine material (low permeability) Compression is controlled by the rate at which water and air are squeezed out (consolidation).
The process can be simulated by the following "spring model".

Consolidation test - (v, t, S (ore))

Objectives: to simulate the compression by loading the in-situ sample in lab controlled
environment
Major Results: (1) The total amount of settlement (Cc-compression index, Cs-swell index)
(2) The rate of settlement (Cv - coefficient of consolidation)
By using Cc, Cs & Cv values, we may predict the field condition.

Determination of Cc:
From test, under different loading different e.

av = coefficient of compressibility =

v = L / L0

or H / Ho = Sc / Ho = e / (1+ eo), eo - initial void ratio

Ho- initial layer thickness
Sc = Ho e / (1+ eo),
However v vs. 'vc is not a straight line
if plotted in terms of e vs. log 'vc

Cc or Cs = (e1 - e2) / (log'2 - log'1) = e / log('2/ '1)

if Cc & Cs are found from test, then from Eq,

* total Sc =

, '2 = final stress, '1 = initial stress (overburden pressure)

Preconsolidation Pressure (Soil has memory)

OCR = 'P/ 'VO, 'P = preconsolidation stress (determined Casagrande's method), 'VO =
current overburden stress
(1) OCR > 1, over consolidation
(2) OCR = 1, normal consolidation
(3) OCR < 1, under consolidation

v = V / Vo for one-dimensional strain

V / Vo = H / (Ho) = H / Ho = L
V / Vo = e / (1 + eo)
eo = Vvo / Vs Vvo = eo Vs Vo = eo Vs
e = (Vvo - Vst) / Vs = V / Vs V =
V / Vo = e / (1 + eo)

L = H / Ho = e / (1 + eo) H = Ho e / (1 + eo)

Casagrande procedure is as follows:

1, Choose by eye the point of minimum radius (or maximum curvature) on the consolidation
curve (point A in Fig.8.6).
2, Draw a horizontal line from point A.
3, Draw a line tangent to the curve at point A.
4, Bisect the angle made by steps 2 and 3.
5, Extend the straight line portion of the virgin compression curve up to where it meets the
bisector line obtained in step4. The point of intersection of these two lines is the

preconsolidation stress(point B of Fig. 8.6)

Procedure of Computing Primary Consolidation Settlement

1. From lab data, graphically determine Cc, Cs and 'P
2. Based on given soil data, determine, t , sat , eo
3. Determine 'vo based on t and sat
4. Determine due to external loading based on influence charts
5. Determine D = 'vo +
6. Determine OCR = 'P / 'vo
7. Based on OCR value, select the proper equation to find the settlement

If OCR 1

If OCR > 1 (a) if 'vo < D < 'P,

(b) if 'vo < 'P < D ,

(b) if 'vo < 'P < D ,

8. Determine the total settlement Sc