Compressibility & Consolidation

Behaviour (PART 1)

SKAA 2722

GEOTECHNICS 1

Prepared by:
Dr Hetty
Definition

• Compressibility

• Consolidation

• Settlement
 COMPRESSIBILITY
volume changes in a soil when subjected to
pressure giving AMOUNTS of settlement

CONSOLIDATION
rate of volume change with time –giving TIME to
produce an amount of settlement required

SETTLEMENT
The outcome / results due to compressibility and
consolidation.
Compression of soil

The compression of soil is due to:

 Elastic Deformation

 Deformation of soil grains (small and negligible)

Deformation of solid particles 
secondary compression

 Compression of air and water in the voids (water is

incompressible)

 Squeezing out of water and air from the voids

 Expulsion of air from pores  Compaction
 Dissipation of pore-water  Consolidation
Settlement

 If a structure is placed on soil surface, then

the soil will undergo an elastic and plastic
deformation.

 In engineering practice, the deformation or

reduction in the soil volume is seen as
settlement or heave depending on either the
load is increased or decreased.
Components of Total Settlement

S = Si + Sc + Ss

Si = Immediate Settlement
Sc = Consolidation Settlement
Ss = Secondary compression
Components of Total Settlement

Immediate settlement (Elastic

settlement)
 This compression is usually taken as occurring
immediately after application of the load.

Primary consolidation
 The process of compression due to extrusion of
water from the voids in a soil as a result of
increased loading.

Secondary consolidation
 Soil compression and additional associated
settlement continue at a very slow rate, the result
of plastic readjustment of soil grains.
Consolidation
When saturated soil is loaded  Load is taken by the
water  water dissipate  Load is taken by the soil
skeleton  Deformation
Oedometer Test

Assumptions:
 Load

Porous stone

Soil Specimen Water

Confining
Porous stone ring

Ref: BS 1377 (Par 5)

Procedure: Oedometer Test Video

 Soil sample is placed in a metal ring (Figure ).

 Purpose of the disks are to allow water to flow vertically into
and out of the soil sample.
 Pressure is applied to the soil sample and dial readings
(deformation) and corresponding time observation are made.
 Normally, this is done over a 24-hour period.
 Then graph is prepared using these data with time on
logarithmic scale.
 The procedure is repeated after the sample reached 100% of
consolidation. The applied load then will be double.
 For each graph, the void ratio (e) and coefficient of
consolidation (cv) that correspond to the specific applied
pressure (p) are determined.
Oedometer Test
-DATA ANALYSIS-
Consolidation Characteristics:

Casagrande ‘s
 cv (coefficient of consolidation) / Taylor’s
method

 Cc (compression index)
 Cr (recompression index)
e-log pressure
 Pc (preconsollidation pressure)
Laboratory Data & Analysis
calculations
before test 1
i ns i de di a of ri ng, cm = 7.5
mass of solids in specimens, Ms = 83.52

hei ght of ri ng, cm = 1.92 (mass of dry specimen after test)

a rea of s peci men, cm2 = 44.184
ma s s of ri ng, g = 108.4 mass of water in spec. b4 test, Mwi = wi x Ms 52.868
ma s s of ri ng + s peci men = 242.2 mass of water in spec.after test, Mwf = wf x Ms 39.730
i ni ti a l moi s ture content, wi = 63.3
s peci fi c gra vi ty,Gs = 2.47 height of solids, Hs = Ms / (A x Gs x ρw) 0.7653
height of water b4 test, Hwi = Mwi / (A x ρw) 1.1965
after test 1 height of water after test, Hwf = Mwf / (A x ρw) 0.8992
ma s s of wet s a mpl e + ri ng = 231.94
ma s s of ca n = 27.81
change in height of spec. after test, H (cm) = 0.2715
ma s s of ca n + wet s oi l = 151.06
(see t vs dial reading data)
ma s s of wet s a mpl e= 123.54
ma s s of ca n + dry s oi l = 111.33
Height of spec. after test, Hf = Hi -  1.6485
ma s s of dry s peci men = 83.52
fi na l moi s ture content, wf = 47.57
void ratio b4 test, e0 = (Hi - Hs) / Hs 1.51
void ratio after test, ef = (Hf - Hs) / Hs 1.15

degree of sat b4 test, Si = Hwi / (Hi - Hs) 103.622

degree of sat after test, Sf = Hwf / (Hf - Hs) 101.81

dry density b4 test, ρd (g/cm3)= Ms / (Hi x A) 0.985

Coefficient Of Consolidation, cv

Casagrande ‘s Taylor ‘s Method

Method @
@ Square root time
Log time method method
Casagrande ‘s Method @ Log time method

Most of the time it is difficult to

get this straight line
Example : Data
8 lb

time t (min) dial reading 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000

1.08
0 0
10s 0.167 1.18 1.12

20s 0.333 1.219 1.16

30s 0.5 1.249 1.2

40s 0.667 1.274 1.24 H= 0.499 mm d0= 1.086
50s 0.833 1.296
1.28 d100= 1.585
1min 1 1.316 d50= 1.3355
1.32
2min 2 1.405 t50= 1.3 min DH= 0.499
4min 4 1.491 1.36 H1= 18.114
8min 8 1.546 1.4
H2= 17.615
Hav= 17.8645
15min 15 1.574 1.44 d= 8.93225
30min 30 1.593 1.48
1h 60 1.606
1.52
2h 120 1.616
1.56
4h 240 1.626
1.6
8h 480 1.635
24h 1440 1.646 1.64
1. Plot a graph relating dial reading (mm) versus log time
2. Produce a straight line for primary consolidation and secondary
consolidation part of the graph. The two lines will meet at point C.
3. The ordinate of point C is D100 = the deformation corresponds to U =
100%
4. Choose time t1 (point A), t2 = 4t1 (point B), t3 = 4t2 etc. The difference in
the dial reading is equal to x.
5. An equal distance x set off above point A fixes the point D0 = the
deformation corresponds to U =0%. Notes that D0 is not essentially equal
to the initial reading may be due to small compression of air within the
sample.
6. The compression between D0 and D100 is called the primary consolidation.
7. A point corresponding to U = 50% can be located midway between D0 and
D100. The value of T corresponds to U = 50% is 0.196.
8. Thus
0.196 Hd 2
Cv 
t50
where Hd = half the thickness of the specimen
Taylor ‘s Method @Square Root time method
1. Extent the straight line part of the curve to
intersect the ordinate (t = 0) at point D. The
point shows the initial reading (Do). The
intersection of this line with the abscissa is P.
2. Take point Q such that OQ = 1.15 OP.
3. The intersection of line DQ and the curve is
called point G
4. Draw horizontal line from G to the ordinate (D90).
The point shows the value of t90. The value of T
corresponds to U = 90% is 0.848.
5. Thus 2
0.848 H d
Cv 
t90
Hd is half the thickness of specimen for a particular pressure increment.
 SQUARE-ROOT OF TIME VS LOG TIME METHOD

Generally square root of time method is better

Square root of time methods usually gives lower Cv

Square root of time method is easier to program in computer

k computed from Cv almost always less then measured value; slower compression

To decide which is correct  compare the k value

The square root of time method works well based on the assumption of NO
secondary consolidation

 Use strictly for vertical drainage

 Cannot be used for some soils such as peat, k changes very much when subjects
to change in effective stress.

 Square root of time method is OK because Terzaghi theory does not account for
secondary compression anyway
How do we get the factor 1.15

d 90  F 0.848

9 d  9 F 0.197
5 50 5
d 90 F 0.848
  1.1525  1.15
9 d 9 F 0.197
5 50 5
Example 1
Refer to the tabulated values obtained from the consolidation test.
Use Taylor’s square root time method to determine the coefficient of
consolidation, Cv if a double drainage consolidation test was
performed on a saturated clay sample with the diameter of 50mm
and thickness of 20mm, respectively.
Solution 1

t90 = 4 minutes
t90 = 16 minutes
Example 2
Data from a double drainage one-dimensional consolidation test
conducted on a saturated clay are as tabulated in the following table.
The diameter of 50mm and thickness of 20mm, respectively.
Determine the coefficient of consolidation, Cv in m2/year using
Casagrande log time method
Solution 2

t50 = 7 minutes

0.197 10 2
Cv 
7 min
cv = 2.81mm2/min
= 1.5 m2/year
See you in next class…..