CE 548: Geotechnical

Engineering
Consolidation Mitigation
 Mitigation Objectives
Problem: Site conditions and current design are
causing a failure to meet engineering objectives of
the project
time
Most common concerns:
• Settlements are too large ∆𝐻
• Settlements occur too slowly

Solution: Mitigation strategies to promote water flow

from saturated soil
 Mitigation Options
1. Preload (Surcharge)
time

∆𝐻
𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡∆𝜎

𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡
+ 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 ∆𝜎
 Mitigation Options
Preload (Surcharge)

Preload Types:
• Earth fill
• Water in lined pond
• Lower GW table
 Mitigation Options
Preload (Surcharge)

Preload Types:
• Earth fill
• Water in lined pond
• Lower GW table
• Electro-osmosis
 Mitigation Options
Preload (Surcharge) Effects
time

∆𝐻
 Preload (Surcharge) Effects
Effect of Surcharge Removal
∆𝜎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒
∆𝜎𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡

𝑢𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠
 Preload (Surcharge) Effects
Effect of Surcharge Removal
∆𝜎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒
∆𝜎𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡 ∆𝜎𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡

𝑅𝑒𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑

𝑢𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠
𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔
 Preload (Surcharge) Effects
Other Surcharge Removal Options
time

∆𝐻
 Preload (Surcharge) Effects
Other Surcharge Removal Options
∆𝜎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒
∆𝜎𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡 time

𝑢𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠
∆𝐻
 Preload (Surcharge) Effects
Other Surcharge Removal Options
time

∆𝐻
 A) Consolidation path for soil with
surcharge.

B) Vertical Strain versus time for soil

with surcharge.

From: Lambrechts et al. (2004)

tp= end of primary

tr= surcharge removal
ts= start of secondary
compression

tp= end of primary

tr= surcharge removal
ts= start of secondary
compression
 Top: Reduction of secondary
compression with OCR.
Bottom: rebound time following
surcharge removal
Lambrechts et al. 2004

C’α= coef. of secondary consol for

soil after surcharge
AAOS=[σ’p - σ’vf]/ σ’vf (%) Cα = coef. of secondary consol for
[
NC clay
σ’p= equivalent preconsolidation
log(ts/ tr )

pressure following loading

σ’vf= final stress (after surcharge
removed)

AAOS=[σ’p - σ’vf]/ σ’vf (%) tp= end of primary

tr= surcharge removal
ts= start of secondary
compression
Mitigation Options
2. Vertical Drains

T𝐷2
t=
𝑐𝑣−𝑣

T𝑑 2
t=
𝑐𝑣−ℎ
 Vertical Drains

What makes this faster?

Geocomposite Drains
Radial Drainage

de dw ds
Radial
Drainage
Vertical Drains
 References
• Lambrechts, Layhe, and Strub (2004) “Analyzing
Surcharge Needs to Reduce Secondary
Compression at Embankment Interfaces”
Geotechnical Engineering for Transportation
Projects, Geotechnical Special Publication 126,
Yeghian and Kavazanjian (eds) Vol. 2, pg. 2048-
2057.
• Yeung (1997) “Design Curves for Prefabricated
Vertical Drains”, Journal of Geotechnical and
Geoenvironmental Engineering, 123 (8) pg. 755-
759.