Consolidation Test: Askari - Med Al Eng - Moham Soil Lab

Soil Lab Eng_Mohammed Al-askari
Consolidation test
Introduction
- When a saturated soil mass is subjected to a load increment, the load is usually carried
Initially by the water in the pores because the water is incompressible when compared
With the soil “skeleton”.
- As the water drains from the soil pores, the load increment is gradually
shifted to the soil structure.
This transfer of load is accompanied by a change in the total volume of soil equal to the
volume of water drained. This process is known as consolidation.
 We can understand the consolidation process by looking at the spring analogy

shown in Figure 1.in which spring refers to the soil structure.
‫ ﻋﻨﺪﻣﺎ ﻧﺆﺛﺮ ﺑﻘﻮة ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺸﻜﻞ اﻻول ﺣﯿﺚ اﻟﺼ ﻤﺎم ﻣﻐﻠ ﻖ ﻓﺎن اﻟﻤ ﺎء ﺳ ﯿﺘﺤﻤﻞ ﻛﺎﻣ ﻞ اﻟﻀ ﻐﻂ وﻟ ﯿﺲ اﻟﺰﻧﺒ ﺮك‬
‫ﺣﯿﺚ ان اﻟﻤﺎء ﻻ ﯾﻘﺒﻞ ﻫﻨﺎ اﻻﻧﻀﻐﺎط ﺑﯿﻨﻤﺎ اﻟﺰﻧﺒﺮك ﯾﻤﻜﻦ ان ﯾﻨﻀﻐﻂ وﻟﻜﻦ ﻋﻨﺪﻣﺎ ﻧﻔ ﺘﺢ اﻟﺼ ﻤﺎم وﯾﺒ ﺪا اﻟﻤ ﺎء‬
.(C) ‫ﺑﺎﻟﻬﺮوب ﯾﻨﺘﻘﻞ اﻟﺤﻤﻞ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﺎء اﻟﻰ اﻟﺰﻧﺒﺮك ﻛﻤﺎ ﻓﻰ اﻟﺸﻜﻞ‬
 Consolidation, occurs in a soil is directly related to the permeability of the soil

because the permeability controls the speed at which the pore water can escape.
 Laboratory consolidation studies are almost entirely limited to soils of low

permeability. Because time required for consolidation after a load application
can be considered negligible for high permeable soils.
Objective
The main purpose of consolidation tests is to obtain soil data which is used in
predicting the rate and amount of settlement of structures founded on clay. four terms
can be Determined:
1) The preconsolidation stress, p’. This is the maximum stress that the soil
has “felt” in the past.
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2) The compression index, Cc , which indicates the compressibility of a

normally-consolidated soil.
3) The recompression index, Cr , which indicates the compressibility of an
Over-consolidated soil.
4) The coefficient of consolidation, cv , which indicates the rate of compression
under a load increment.
 A normally-consolidated soil is defined as a soil which, at the present time, is
undergoing the application of a stress that is larger than any stress it has
undergone in its history.
present > p’
 Conversely, an over-consolidated soil is defined as a soil which has experienced
higher stresses in the past,
present < p’
Equipment
Consolidometer and dial indicator
Loading frame (pneumatically controlled)
Timing device.
Some notes on the apparatus:

1) Note that the specimen is contained by a relatively rigid ring; thus compression
and Consolidation are one-dimensional.
2) There are porous stones at the top and bottom of the specimen so that water can
drain, and thereby dissipate excess hydrostatic pressure.
3) The specimen is surrounded by a water bath at all times, to prevent the specimen
from desiccating (drying out).
4) The dial indicator, accurate to 0.01 mm, measures the change in
height of the specimen after the load has been applied.
Procedure
-----
Calculations
 Cv (the coefficient of consolidation)
The two common (graphical methods) for calculation are as follows:
1) Logarithm -of- time method:
For a given incremental loading of the laboratory test , the specimen
deformation (Y-axis)against log-time (x-axis) , the following constructions are
need to determine Cv:
1) Extend the straight-line portions of primary and secondary consolidations to
intersect of A is represented by d100 – that is , the deformation at the of 100%
primary consolidation .
2) The initial curved portion of the plot of deformation versus log t is approximated
to be a parabola on the natural scale. Select times t1 and t2 on the curved portion
such thst t2 = 4t1.let the difference of specimen deformation during time (t2 – t1)
be equal to x.

3) Draw a horizontal line DE such that the vertical distance BD is equal to x. the
deformation corresponding to line De is do (that is, deformation at 0%
consolidation).
4) The ordinate of point F on the consolidation curve represent the deformation at
50% primary consolidation, and its abscissa represents the corresponding time
(t50)
5) For 50% average degree consolidation, Tv = 0. 197 from table.
0.197 H 2 dr
Cv  H i  Davg
t 50 H dr 
2
Davg=(initial dial reading-

final dial reading)/2
2) Square-Root-of-Time Method:
In this method, a plot of deformation against the square root of time is made
for the incremental loading. Other graphic constructions required are as follows:
1) Draw a line AB through the early of the curve.
2) Draw a line Ac such that OC =1.15 OB The abscissa of point D, which is the
intersection of AC and the consolidation curve. Gives the square root of time for
90% consolidation (t 0.5).
3) For 90% consolidation, T90 = .848 (from table).
0.848 H 2 dr
Cv 
t 90
Hdr is determined as in previous method

 Void ratio pressure plots:

1- Calculate the height of solids:
Hs = ms / (Gs w Ar)
Where:
ms = mass of solids (dry mass of specimen)
Gs = specific gravity.
w = density of water.
Ar = cross-sectional area of the ring.
An idealized figure, showing void-ratio/height rela tionships is shown
below.
2- Calculate the initial height of voids:

Hv0 = H0 - Hs
Where:
H0 = initial height of the specimen
3- Calculate the initial void ratio:
e0 = Hv0 / Hs
e1=H1/Hs
e1=eo-e1

e2=H2/Hs
e2=e1-e2
en=e0-(H)/Hs.
 Pre-consolidation determination (pc)
Casagrande (1936) suggested a simple graphic construction to determine

preconsolidation pressure.
1. By visual observation, establish point a, at which the e-Iog' plot has a minimum
radius of curvature.
2. Draw a horizontal line ab.
3. Draw the line ac tangent at a.
4. Draw the line ad, which is the bisector of the angle bac.
5. Project the straight-line portion gh of the e-Iog ' plot back to intersect line ad at f
.The abscissa of point f is the preconsolidation pressure, 'c.
 Compression index determination(cc)

Normally Consolidated Clay of Low to Medium Plasticity
1. Curve 2 is the laboratory e-Iog' plot. From this plot, determine the pre-
consolidation pressure (c') = o' (that is, the present effective overburden
pressure). Knowing where (c') = o', draw vertical line ab.
2. Calculate the void ratio in the field. eo . Draw horizontal line cd.
3. Ca1culate 0.4eo and draw line ef (Note: f is the point of intersection of the line with
curve 2.)
4. Join points f and g. Note that g is the point of intersection of lines ab and cd.

Data
- Mass of oven dry cake (Ms) = 89.7g.
- Final Water content = 18.7 %
- Specific gravity (G.S) = 2.71
- Mass of final wet sample ( Mw)= 117.12 g .
- Initial height of the sample (Hi) (or ring height) = 20 mm.
- Ring Diameter = Dr =6.214cm.
Load (1) = 100 kpa.
Load (2) = 200 kpa

Load (1) 100 kpa. Load( 2) 200 kpa

Elapsed time Deformation Elapsed time Deformation
(min) (mm) (min) (mm)
0 0.59 0 0.98
0.1 0.66 0.1 1.095
0.25 0.675 0.25 1.12
0.5 0.695 0.5 1.135
1 0.70 1 1.16
2 0.72 2 1.175
4 0.73 4 1.20
8 0.75 8 1.235
15 0.78 15 1.27
30 0.80 30 1.325
60 0.835 60 1.38
120 0.885 120 1.435
256 0.94 256 1.48
420 0.97 579 1.51
1417 0.98 1410 1.52
Required:
- Plot deformation vs Log time then obtain Cv.
- Plot deformation vs time then obtain Cv.
Load (kpa)
(mm)H*10 -3 cm* e
0 0 eo=
25 32
50 27
100 39
200 54
400 71
800 67
1600 71
*Different of dial reading between the start and the end of each load increment.
Required
- Calculate void ratio at the end of each load increment.
- Plot e Vs Log P , then obtain
Pre-consolidation pressure pc
Compression index Cc

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Soil Lab Eng_Mohammed Al-askari

 We can understand the consolidation process by looking at the spring analogy

 Consolidation, occurs in a soil is directly related to the permeability of the soil

 Laboratory consolidation studies are almost entirely limited to soils of low

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2) The compression index, Cc , which indicates the compressibility of a

Some notes on the apparatus:

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Davg=(initial dial reading-

Hdr is determined as in previous method

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 Void ratio pressure plots:

2- Calculate the initial height of voids:

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 Pre-consolidation determination (pc)

Casagrande (1936) suggested a simple graphic construction to determine

 Compression index determination(cc)

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Created with novaPDF Printer (www.novaPDF.com)

Load (1) 100 kpa. Load( 2) 200 kpa

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