INTRODUCTION

This report document aims to give a laboratory investigation carried out on the consolidation
test. Consolidation tests are frequently conducted on saturated soil samples with the goal of
determining the amount and rate of volume loss that occurs in a laterally constrained soil
specimen under various pressures.
Definition: A consolidation test, also called an oedometer test is a measurement of how soils
compress when saturated with water and exposed to varying amounts of load.
Purpose: The consolidation curve can be plotted using the measured data. This information
can be used to calculate the compression index, recompression index and maximum past
pressure of the soil. The information gathered can also be utilized to calculate the soil’s
secondary and compression and consolidation coefficients.
Apparatus
 Consolidation ring
 Filter paper
 Loading pad
 Porous stones
 Dial gauge
 Water reservoir
 Spatula
 Oven
 Stopwatch

Test procedure
i. The soil sample is first collected using a consolidation metal ring. The ring should be
well cleaned and dried before having its weight, inner diameter, and height measured.
ii. Then the metal ring is pressed into the soil sample using hands and it is taken out with
soil specimen.
iii. Now, using a knife or spatula, we removed the extra soil from the rings’ top and
bottom.
iv. After verifying there is no additional soil in the ring’s outside edges, we then weigh
the metal ring with the specimen.
 v. We then put the consolidometer together. Starting with the bottom porous stone, filter
paper, specimen, filter paper and top porous stone we arrange the components from
bottom to top in that order.
vi. Set the loading pad on top of the porous stone and secure the consolidometer with the
included metal screws.
vii. Place the entire assembly on the loading frame, positioned so that an axial load is
being applied.
viii. Place the dial gauge in such a way that it should provide enough room for the soil
specimen to swell.
ix. The mounted assembly has a water reservoir attached to it so that the soil can be
saturated. The soil sample should be at the same level as the water in the reservoir.
x. The first trail load is already being applied, and it is intended to prevent any soil
swelling.
xi. Once the dial gauge reading has not changed, leave the load in place and record the
final dial gauge reading for the initial load.
xii. Applying the first load increase of 10 KN, immediately starting the stopwatch, and
recording the dial gauge readings at various time intervals.
xiii. Similarly we then applied the loads 25 KN, 50 KN, 100 KN, 200 KN, 400 KN, 800
KN and 1600 KN then we repeated the procedure above and noting down the readings
for each load increase.
xiv. When the values of the last load increment are noted, the load has now been lowered
to one-fourth of that value. Record the dial gauge reading at this moment. until the
load reaches 10 KN, keep reducing the load and repeating the process. recording the
gauge values at each point.
xv. Disassemble the assembly by now removing it from the loading frame.
xvi. Remove the specimen ring, wipe off any extra water, weigh the ring, and make a note
of the weight.
xvii. Finally Place the sample in the oven to measure the dry weight of the sample.