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Lecture12 4on1 PDF
Lecture12 4on1 PDF
• The process of consolidation is often confused with • Compaction increases the density of an
the process of compaction. unsaturated soil by reducing the volume of air in
• The difference between consolidation and the voids.
compaction can be appreciated using three-phase • Consolidation is a time-related process of
diagrams as shown below: increasing the density of a saturated soil by
Reduction in the Reduction in the draining some of the water out of the voids.
volume of the air volume of the water
• Consolidation is generally related to fine-grained
Air
Air
soils such as silts and clays.
Water
Water Water Water • Coarse-grained soils (sands and gravels) also
undergo consolidation but at a much faster rate
due to their high permeability.
Solids Solids Solids Solids
• Saturated clays consolidate at a much slower
rate due to their low permeability.
Compaction Consolidation 3 4
The Need for Consolidation Theory One-
One-dimensional Consolidation
• Consolidation theory is required
• Since water can flow out of a saturated soil
for the prediction of both the
sample in any direction, the process of
magnitude and the rate of
consolidation is essentially three-dimensional.
consolidation settlements to
ensure the serviceability of • However, in most field situations, water will not
structures founded on a be able to flow out of the soil by flowing
compressible soil layer. horizontally because of the vast expanse of the
soil in horizontal direction.
• Differential settlements that
can lead to structural failures • Therefore, the direction of flow of water is
due to tilting should be primarily vertical or one-dimensional.
avoided. Otherwise, you’ll need • As a result, the soil layer undergoes one-
extreme measures to save your dimensional or 1-D consolidation settlement
structure ! in the vertical direction.
5 6
Stress
increase in effective vertical stress is applied so that the vertical
∆σ’
stress. Excess Pore Water stress during the third increment is 200 kPa.
∆u Pressure
• As a result, the soil • For each increment, the final settlement of the
sample settles as 0 Time after application of load soil sample as well as the time taken to reach
shown in the figure. the final settlement is recorded.
∆σ = ∆σ’ + ∆u 11 12
The Oedometer Test (Continued..) The Oedometer Test (Continued..)
• The end points from a Vertical Effective Stress (kPa
(kPa)) • Since the settlement of ∆h ∆e
50 kPa
number of loading and the soil is only due to Water
log(σ’v)
effective stress is called an overconsolidated
• The preconsolidation pressure is like a
(OC) soil. yield stress for soil. σ’c
• The OCR for an OC soil is greater than 1. • This fact can be appreciated by rotating
• Most OC soils have fairly high shear strength. the curve by 90° in anti-clockwise
direction. Doesn’t this curve resemble a
• The OCR cannot have a value less than 1. load-extension curve for a metal rod?
19 20
e