New Era University

College of Engineering and Architecture

Civil Engineering Department

CE 413L-18
FOUNDATION ENGINEERING LABORATORY

LABORATORY EXPERIMENT 1

CONSOLIDATION

NAME: GROUP:

DATE PERFORMED: DATE SUBMITTED:

INSTRUCTOR: REMARKS:

LABORATORY PERFORMANCE:

REPORT GRADE:

AVERAGE:
 New Era University
College of Engineering and Architecture
Civil Engineering Department

INTRODUCTION
Consolidation is the process of time-dependent settlement of saturated clayey soil when
subjected to an increased loading. In this laboratory experiment, the procedure of a one-
dimensional laboratory consolidation test will be described and implemented, and the methods of
calculation to obtain the void ratio – stress curve, the preconsolidation pressure, and the
coefficient of consolidation will be outlined.

OBJECTIVES
 To visualize the effect of increment loading to one-dimensional deformation of soil sample.
 To estimate the maximum primary consolidation settlement of a sample clay layer.
 To create relationship between changes in void ratio with the increment effective stress
on the soil sample.

SPECIFICATION CODES
 ASTM D – 2435
 AASHTO T - 216

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

 Consolidation test unit (Consolidation ring, 2 porous tones, loading pad)
 Specimen trimming device
 Wire saw
 Electronic Balance (sensitive to 0.01g)
 Stopwatch
 Moisture can
 Oven
 Filter Paper
 Battery Water or Distilled Water
 Vernier Caliper

CONSOLIDATION TEST UNIT

The consolidation test unit consists of a consolidometer and a loading device. The consolidometer
can be wither (i) a floating ring consolidometer as shown in figure 1.1a or (ii) a fixed ring
consolidometer as shown in figure 1.1b. The floating ring consolidometer usually consists of a
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brass ring in which the soil specimen is placed. One porous stone is placed at the top of the
specimen and another porous stone at the bottom. The soil specimen in the ring with the two
porous stones are placed on a base plate. A brass ring surrounding the specimen fits into a groove
on the base plate. Load is applied through a loading head that is placed on the top porous stone.
In the floating ring consolidometer, compression of the soil specimen occurs from top and bottom
towards the center. The fixed ring consolidometer essentially consists of the same components,
i.e., a hollow base plate, two porous stones, a brass ring to hold the soil specimen, and a metal
ring that can be fixed tightly to the top of the base plate. The ring surrounds the soil specimen. A
stand pipe is attached to the side of the base plate. This can be used for permeability
determination of soil. In the fixed consolidometer, the compression of the specimen occurs from
the top towards the bottom.
The specifications for the loading devices of the consolidation test unit vary depending upon the
manufacturer. Figure 1.2 shows one type of loading device.

Figure 1.1. Schematic diagram of (a) floating ring consolidometer; (b) fixed ring consolidometer.
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Civil Engineering Department

Figure 1.2. Consolidation load assembly. In this assembly, three specimens can be simultaneously tested.

PROCEDURE
1. Prepare a soil specimen for the test. The specimen is prepared by trimming an undisturbed
natural sample obtained in Shelby tubes. The Shelby tube sample should be about ¼
inches to ½ inches (6.35mm to 12.7mm) larger in diameter than the specimen diameter to
be prepared for the test.
Note: for classroom laboratory purposes, 10% molded part is acceptable, the rest should
be undisturbed.
2. Collect some excess soil that has been trimmed in a moisture can for moisture content
determination.
3. Collect some of the excess soil trimmed in step 1 for determination of specific gravity of
soil solids, Gs. (Soil Mechanics Laboratory 2)
4. Determine the mass of the consolidation ring (W1) in grams.
5. Place the soil specimen in the consolidation ring. Use the wire saw to trim the specimen
flush with the top and bottom of the consolidation ring. Record the size of the specimen,
i.e., initial height (Hi) and diameter (D).
6. Determine the mass of the consolidation ring and the specimen (W2) in grams.
7. Saturate the lower porous stone on the base of the consolidometer.
8. Place the filter paper and then the soil specimen over the lower porous stone.
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9. Place another filter paper and the upper porous stone on the specimen in the ring.
10. Attach the top ring to the base of the consolidometer.
11. Add water to the consolidometer to submerge the soil and keep it saturated. This needs
to be done for the entire period of the test.
12. Place the consolidometer in the loading device.
13. Attach the vertical deflection dial gauge to measure the compression soil. It should be
fixed in such a way that the dial is at the beginning of its release run. The dial gauge should
be calibrated to read as 1 small division = 0.00254mm (0.0001 dial gauge).
14. Apply preconsolidation load of 2kg to the specimen. Wait until the reading in the dial gauge
becomes stable for 10 seconds. Record the initial settlement.
15. Apply another 2kg load (this will be the start of trial 1). Record settlement or vertical
deflection dial gauge readings for t = 15sec, 1min, 2.5min, 4min, 6.25min, 9min, 16min,
25min, 30min, 1hr, 2hr, 4hr, 8hr, and 24hr.
16. Apply an additional load of 4kg (this will be the start of trial 2). Record settlement or vertical
deflection dial gauge readings for t = 15sec, 1min, 2.5min, 4min, 6.25min, 9min, 16min,
25min, 30min, 1hr, 2hr, 4hr, 8hr, and 24hr.
17. At the end of the test, remove the soil specimen and determine its moisture content.

LIST OF PRELIMINARY DATA

Weight of
Weight of
Inner Diameter Height Specimen Ring Moisture Content Specific Gravity
Specimen Ring
and Soil Sample
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Civil Engineering Department

TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2
DIAL GAUGE DIAL GAUGE
TIME SETTLEMENT TIME SETTLEMENT
READINGS READINGS
0 0
0.25 0.25
1 1
2.5 2.5
4 4
6.25 6.25
9 9
16 16
25 25
30 30
60 60
120 120
240 240
480 480
1440 1440

CALCULATION AND GRAPH

1. Moisture Content, MC
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛 − 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛
𝑀𝐶% = × 100
𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛
2. Specific Gravity of Soil Solids, Gs
𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 (𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦)𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑠
𝐺 =
𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 (𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦)𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

3. Height of Soil Solids, Hs

𝑊
𝐻 =
𝐴 𝐺𝜌
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4. Final Void Ratio, e1 or e2

∆𝐻
𝑒 = × 100
𝐻
5. Preconsolidation Pressure, σp in kPa
9810 × 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑘𝑔
𝜎 =
𝐴 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑞. 𝑚𝑚
6. Surcharge, Δσ
9810 × 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑘𝑔
∆𝜎 =
𝐴 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑞. 𝑚𝑚
7. Height at t
𝐻 = 𝐻 − ∆𝐻
8. Strain at t
∆𝐻
𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 =
𝐻
9. Total stress
9810 × 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑘𝑔
𝜎=
𝐴 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑞. 𝑚𝑚
10. Coefficient of Compressibility

0.197𝐻
𝐶 =
𝑡
11. Time rate of consolidation
𝑓𝑜𝑟 90% 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑣𝑠 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑡 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

𝑡 𝑈%
𝑓𝑜𝑟 50% 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: =
𝑡 𝑈%

12. Modulus of volume compressibility

𝑒 −𝑒
𝑚 =
∆𝜎(1 + 𝑒 )

13. Hydraulic conductivity

𝑘=𝐶 𝑚 𝛾
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College of Engineering and Architecture
Civil Engineering Department

FINAL DATA SHEET

GROUP NO.:
DESCRIPTION OF SOIL:
SPECIMEN DIAMETER, D: 64 mm SPECIMEN INITIAL HEIGHT, H I: 25.85mm
HEIGHT OF SOIL SOLIDS, HS: WEIGHT OF DRY SOIL SPECIMEN:
MOISTURE CONTENT at the beginning of test: at the end of test:
DATE of the beginning of test: end of test:
TRIAL 1
Dial Gauge
Time Settlement, ΔH Height at t Strain
Readings
0
0.25
1
2.5
4
6.25
9
16
25
30
60
120
240
480
1440

TRIAL 2
Dial Gauge
Time Settlement, ΔH Height at t Strain
Readings
0
0.25
1
2.5
4
6.25
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9
16
25
30
60
120
240
480
1440

Activity
1. Compute for Height at t and strains.
2. Draw the following graphs:
a. Strain vs root time (trial 1)
b. Strain vs log time (trial 1)
c. Strain vs root time (trial 2)
d. Strain vs root time (trial 2)
e. Settlement vs root time (trial 1)
f. Settlement vs root time (trial 2)
3. Compute for following for each trial:
a. Time rate for 90% consolidation
b. Time rate for 50% consolidation
c. Void ratio at 50% consolidation
d. Modulus of volume compressibility
e. Coefficient of consolidation
f. Hydraulic conductivity