MANILA: Room 206, JPD Building, CM Recto Avenue, Manila

CEBU: 4/F J. Martinez Bldg., Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City

Telephone Number: (02) 516 7559 (Manila) E-Mail: buksmarquez1 @yahoo.com
(032) 254-9967 (Cebu)

Review MODULE – GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 3

STRESSES IN SOIL SITUATION 1. A cylindrical tank is filled with glycerin to a depth of 10 m

and it is applied on the ground surface as shown in the figure. Neglect
~ VERTICAL STRESSES ~ the weight of the cylinder. Gglycerin = 1.25
Effective Stress, PE
It is the stress resulting from particle-to-particle contact of soil.
PE = PT - Pw
Pore-Water Pressure, Pw
It is the stress induced by water-pressure.
Pw = γw h
Total Stress, PT
PT = PE + Pw

SITUATION 1. The sand seabed is located 20 m below the sea surface,

if the thickness of the sand is more than 40 m. The sand has a specific
gravity of 2.70 and a void ratio of 0.60.
1. What would be the effective vertical stress 15 m below the seabed?
1. Determine the value of h.
2. If the water level rises by 5 m, what would be the new effective
vertical stress 30 m below the seabed? 2. What is the U at the mid height of the clay layer if h = 2 m.
3. If the water level drops by 10 m, what would be the new effective
vertical stress 30 m below the seabed? ~ CAPILLARY RISE ~
The same idea that water moves upwards through a small tube against
SITUATION 2. Consider the soil profile shown below: the force of gravity, water in soil moves upwards through soil pores or
the spaces between soil particles. The height to which the water rises is
dependent upon the pore size
𝐂
𝐡=
𝐞(𝐃𝟏𝟎 )

where: C = Capillary constant

e = Void ratio
D10 = Effective diameter

Pore-Water Pressure:
Fully Saturated
Pw = - γw h
Partially Saturated
Pw = - γw h S

where: γw = unit weight of water

4. Determine the vertical effective stress at point C. h = height measured from the water level
S = degree of saturation
5. How high should the groundwater table rise so that the vertical
effective stress at C becomes 111 kN/m2?
6. If by dewatering, the water level lowered by 2 m from the original SITUATION 1. A dense silt layer has a void ratio of 0.80. The
water level, determine the stress increase at point C. groundwater level is at 6.0 m depth. (Other soil proper ties: Effective
diameter = 10 μm, Capillary constant = 0.20 cm2)
~ DEGREE OF CONSOLIDATION ~ 1. Determine the height of the capillary rise in the silt?
The ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the amount of consolidation at 2. Find the vertical effective stress (kPa) at 2 m depth, 5 m depth, 6 m
a given time within a soil mass, to the total amount of consolidation depth, and 8 m depth. (Assume unit weight of solids = 26.5 kN/m3
obtainable under a given stress condition. and that the soil above the capillary rise and ground surface is
𝛅𝐭 partially saturated at 85 %.)
𝐔=
𝛅𝐦𝐚𝐱

where: δt = settlement at time t SITUATION 2. The groundwater table of a deep sand layer is located 3.0
δmax = settlement at the end of primary consolidation m below the ground surface. The sand above the water table is partially
saturated due to capillary action.
Another way to solve the degree of consolidation:
3. If the soil above the water table is only partially saturated at 70%,
𝐮𝐨 − 𝐮𝐭
𝐔= what is the vertical effective stress at a depth of 2 m? Moist unit
𝐮𝐨 weight of sand is 18 kN/m3.
where: uo = initial excess pore water pressure
ut = excess pore water pressure at time t
 MANILA: Room 206, JPD Building, CM Recto Avenue, Manila
CEBU: 4/F J. Martinez Bldg., Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City
Telephone Number: (02) 516 7559 (Manila) E-Mail: buksmarquez1 @yahoo.com
(032) 254-9967 (Cebu)

Review MODULE – GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 3

~ TIME RATE OF CONSOLIDATION ~ COMPRESSIBILITY OF SOIL

Coefficient of Consolidation, cv The increase in stress caused by foundation and other loads compresses
It is the parameter used to describe the rate at which saturated clay or a soil layer. This compression is caused by:
other soil undergoes consolidation, or compaction, when subjected to an 1. Compaction
increase in pressure. It is the instantaneous process of reducing the volume voids due to
𝐤
𝐜𝐯 = expulsion of pore air.
𝐦𝐯 𝛄𝐰
2. Consolidation
Coefficient of Volume Compressibility, mv It is a time dependent process of reducing the volume voids due to
It is the volume decrease of a unit volume of soil per unit increase of expulsion of pore water and plastic readjustment of soil solids.
effective pressure during compression.
𝐚𝐯 Settlement is defined as the deformation of soil due to vertical stress.
𝐦𝐯 = Settlement is defined as the vertical movement of the ground due to
𝟏 + 𝐞𝐨 increased vertical stresses are applied to the ground surface.
Coefficient of Compressibility, av
Soil Settlement may be divided into three categories:
It is the slope of the void ratio-pressure curve when both are plotted on 1. Immediate settlement - caused by the elastic deformation of
an arithmetic scale. dry, moist, and saturated soils, without any change in moisture content.
𝐞𝟏 − 𝐞𝟐
𝐚𝐯 =
𝐏𝟐 − 𝐏𝟏 2. Primary consolidation settlement – caused by a volume
change in saturated cohesive soils due to expulsion of water that
Time Factor, Tv occupies the void spaces.
It is the parameter used to find the consolidation coefficient with time
3. Secondary consolidation settlement – caused by plastic
taken for consolidation settlement in soil. It is a non-dimensional number.
readjustment of soil fabrics. It is an additional form of compression that
𝐂𝐯 𝐭 occurs at constant effective stress.
𝐓𝐯 =
(𝐇𝐝𝐫 )𝟐

𝛑 𝐔 𝟐 PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT (CLAY)

𝐓𝐯 = ( ) when: 0 < U ≤ 60%
𝟒 𝟏𝟎𝟎 ∆𝒆
𝐓𝐯 = 𝟏. 𝟕𝟖𝟏 − 𝟎. 𝟗𝟑𝟑 𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝟏𝟎𝟎 − 𝐔) when: 60% < U < 100% 𝑺= 𝑯
𝒆𝒐 + 𝟏

where: H = thickness of stratum

where: k = coefficient of permeability / hydraulic conductivity eo = void ratio before the vertical load is applied
t = time corresponding to the degree of consolidation S = primary consolidation settlement
Hdr = thickness of soil sample (one way or two way)
U = degree of consolidation in % PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT OF NORMALLY
CONSOLIDATED CLAY
SITUATION 1. Undisturbed samples were collected from a 3 m thick clay 𝑪𝑪 𝑯 𝑷𝒐 + ∆𝑷
stratum which lies between two sand strata. A laboratory consolidation 𝑺= 𝒍𝒐𝒈 [ ]
𝒆𝒐 + 𝟏 𝑷𝒐
test was performed on a 3 cm thick sample of the clay. During the test,
water was allowed to drain out only through the top of the sample. The
PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT OF
time required for 50% consolidation was found to be 35 minutes.
OVERCONSOLIDATED CLAY
1. Determine the coefficient of consolidation in m2/day.
Case 1: (Po + ∆P) ≤ Pc
2. Determine the time required for 50% settlement of the clay in days.
𝑪𝒔 𝑯 𝑷𝒐 + ∆𝑷
𝑺= 𝒍𝒐𝒈 [ ]
SITUATION 2. A laboratory consolidation test on a normally consolidated 𝒆𝒐 + 𝟏 𝑷𝒐
clay has the following results: Case 2: (Po + ∆P) > Pc
Void ratio, e
Load (kN/m2) 𝑪𝒔 𝑯 𝑷𝒄 𝑪𝒄 𝑯 𝑷𝒐 + ∆𝑷
(at the end of consolidation) 𝑺= 𝒍𝒐𝒈 [ ] + 𝒍𝒐𝒈 [ ]
200 1.00 𝒆𝒐 + 𝟏 𝑷𝒐 𝒆𝒐 + 𝟏 𝑷𝒄
280 0.70
where: H = thickness of clay layer eo = initial void ratio
The soil sample tested was 20 mm thick and drained both sides. The Cc = compression index Cs = swell index
time required for the specimen to reach 40 % consolidation was 8 mins. Pc = preconsolidation pressure ∆P = additional load
A similar clay layer in the field 2 m thick and drained both sides is Po = present overburden pressure
expected to have a primary consolidation settlement of 150 mm.
3. What is the average degree of consolidation of the soil in the field COMPRESSION INDEX, Cc (Skempton)
when it reaches 70 mm settlement? For Remolded Clay: For Undisturbed Clay:
4. From the data results in the laboratory, what is the coefficient of Cc = 0.007(LL – 7%) CC = 0.009(LL – 10%)
consolidation of the clay soil in m2/day?
SWELL INDEX, Cs
5. What is the length of time (in days) required for the settlement in the 𝟏
Cs ≅ 𝑪𝒄 𝒕𝒐
𝟏
𝑪𝒄
field reaches 100 mm? 𝟓 𝟏𝟎
 MANILA: Room 206, JPD Building, CM Recto Avenue, Manila
CEBU: 4/F J. Martinez Bldg., Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City
Telephone Number: (02) 516 7559 (Manila) E-Mail: buksmarquez1 @yahoo.com
(032) 254-9967 (Cebu)

Review MODULE – GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 3

SITUATION: A 4 m thick saturated clay layer is overlain by a 10 m thick IMMEDIATE & SECONDARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT
sand layer and is underlain by rock. The water table is 4 m below the
sand ground surface. The saturated unit weights of clay and sand are 21 Immediate Settlement, Se
KN/m3 and 19 KN/m3 respectively. The sand above the water table has 𝑩𝒒(𝟏 − 𝒖𝟐𝒔 ) 𝑰𝒇
a unit weight of 16 KN/m3. A uniformly distributed load, 70 kPa, is applied 𝑺𝒆 =
𝑬𝒔
at the ground surface, Assume Cs = 1/5 Cc. initial void ratio = 0.50. LL =
70 %. Determine the settlement of the clay layer caused by primary
Secondary Consolidation Settlement, Ss
consolidation if:
𝑪𝜶 𝑯 𝑻𝟐
1. The clay is normally consolidated. 𝑺𝒔 = 𝒍𝒐𝒈 [ ]
𝒆𝒑 + 𝟏 𝑻𝟏
2. The preconsolidation pressure is 180 kPa.
3. The preconsolidation pressure is 250 kPa.
SITUATION. Figure shows the geometry of a rectangular footing (4 m x
2 m) of a three storied building and the properties of clay layer.
CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT UNDER A FOUNDATION
Approximate Slope Method:
∆𝑷𝒕 + 𝟒∆𝑷𝒎 + ∆𝑷𝒃
∆𝑷 =
𝟔
where: ∆Pt = increase in pressure at the top of the layer
∆Pm = increase in pressure at the middle of the layer
∆Pb = increase in pressure at the bottom of the layer

SITUATION: It is desired to calculate the consolidation settlement of the

5 m thick clay layer shown in figure that will result from the load carried
by the footing measuring 3 m x 3 m in plan. Assume the clay to be
normally consolidated and using 2:1 method.
1. Calculate the initial effective stress at the mid-height of the clay
layer.
2. Calculate the induced stress at the mid-height of the clay layer.
3. Calculate the consolidation settlement of the clay layer if it is
normally consolidated.
4. If the coefficient of volume compressibility is 0.0004 m2/kN,
calculate the settlement
1. Calculate the bearing pressure at the base of the foundation.
2. Calculate the overburden pressure.
3. Calculate the immediate settlement.
4. Compute the secondary consolidation settlement of the clay 4 years
after the completion of primary consolidation settlement. Time for
the completion of primary settlement is 2 years. Secondary
compression index is 0.020.

TOTAL SETTLEMENT
𝑺𝑻 = 𝑺𝒆 + 𝑺𝒑 + 𝑺𝒔

1. From the previous problem, determine the total consolidation

settlement of the clay 3 years after the completion of primary
consolidation settlement. Time for the completion of primary
settlement is 1 year. Secondary compression index is 0.025.