Introduction

Pre-consolidation pressure c is an important parameter, which expresses the stress history of soil
especially for the behavior of cohesive soil. It is well known that accurate estimation of
settlement of cohesive soil depends to large extent on the accurate value of c. Moreover, several
researchers tried to predict c from empirical correlations depending on soil properties such as
moisture content, Atterberg limits, void ratio, shear strength and overburden pressure. Cone
penetration test was widely used to estimate c to overcome the disadvantages of disturbances,
which occurred during drilling and when carrying out laboratory tests. The concept of pre-
consolidation pressure and its importance is well defined in geotechnical engineering for
calculating settlement. Pre-consolidation pressure, c is commonly defined as the highest
pressure to which the soil had been exposed in the past. Consolidation test results are considered
the main laboratory test that can be used for determining the value of c.

Calculate the height of solid, Hs, in the specimen by using the equation:

Ws Ms
H s= =
AG s w AG s w

Calculate the initial height of void, Hv as:

Hv = H Hs

Calculate the value of initial void ratio, eo as:

eo = /
The compression index for the calculation of field settlement caused by consolidation can be
determine by graphic construction after one obtain the laboratory test result for void ratio and
pressure. The compression index can define by using this equation:

e 1e 2
Cc = log 2
1

then, the swell index is appreciably smaller in magnitude than the compression index and
generally can be determine from the laboratory test. The swell index can define by using this
equation.

e 1e 2
Cs = log 2
1
 Borehole 1
Depth 12.0-12.9
(/2) () () () ()= = /

25 0.238 18.762 9.323 9.439 1.01
50 0.734 18.266 9.323 8.943 0.96
100 1.367 17.633 9.323 8.31 0.89
200 2.256 16.744 9.323 7.421 0.80
400 3.145 15.855 9.323 6.532 0.70
800 4.139 14.861 9.323 5.538 0.59
1600 5.058 13.942 9.323 4.619 0.50
800 5.001 13.999 9.323 4.676 0.50
200 4.785 14.215 9.323 4.892 0.52
50 4.376 14.624 9.323 5.301 0.57
25 4.178 14.822 9.323 5.499 0.59
Result

Table below shows the result of consolidation test for borehole 1 at depth of 12 to 12.90m based
on data given in Appendix III. Graph of void ratio, versus effective stress, is plotted to find the
value of preconsolidation pressure, , compression index, and swell index, .

Ms = 49.61g A = 19.635cm2

Gs = 2.71 w =
g
1
cm3

Ws Ms 49.61
Hs= = = =0.9323 cm=9.323 mm
AGsw AGsw (19.635 cm )(2.71)(1 g/cm 3 )
2

=80/2
e 1e 2 0.890.80
Cc = log 2 = log 200 = 0.299
1 100
 e 1e 2 0.540.52
=0.066
Cs = log 2 = log 200
1 100

Table below shows the result of consolidation test for borehole 1 at depth of 18 to 19.00m based on data
given in Appendix III. Graph of void ratio, versus effective stress, is plotted to find the value of
preconsolidation pressure, ,compression index, and swell index, .

Borehole Borehole 1
Depth 18.0-19.0
(/2) () () () ()= = /

25 0.143 18.857 7.098 11.759 1.66
50 0.428 18.572 7.098 11.474 1.62
100 1.060 17.940 7.098 10.842 1.53
200 2.404 16.596 7.098 9.498 1.34
400 3.899 15.101 7.098 8.003 1.13
800 5.378 13.622 7.098 6.524 0.92
1600 6.600 12.400 7.098 5.302 0.75
800 6.396 12.604 7.098 5.506 0.78
200 5.795 13.205 7.098 6.107 0.86
50 5.065 13.935 7.098 6.837 0.96
25 4.738 14.262 7.098 7.164 1.01

Ms = 37.35g A = 19.635cm2

Gs = 2.68 w =
g
1
cm3

Ws Ms 37.35
H s= = = =0.7098 cm=7.098 mm
AG s w AG s w (19.635 cm )(2.68)(1 g/cm3 )
2

=80/2
 e 1e 2 1.531.34
Cc = log 2 = log 200 =0.613
1 100

e 1e 2 0.900.86
Cs = log 2 = log 200 =0.133
1 100

Discussion

For our discussion, preconsolidation pressure test can be determined by using Casagrande
method, from the data obtain we can got compression index, Cc is greater than swell index, Cs. if
the depth borehole increase, so both value of Cc and Cs also increase. Therefore the value of Cc
and Cs at the depth at 18.0m-19.0m is higher than 12.0m-12.9m.