Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah

Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik

Universitas Indonesia

PRACTICIAN NAME : Shiela Ariesta Efendi 2106657771

Sami Haidar Moeljawan 2106718174
Afina Shafa Nada Sudrajat 2106657071
GROUP : K-4
DATE OF PRACTICUM : 6 November 2022 - 12 November 2022
TITLE OF PRACTICUM : Consolidation
ASISTANT : Gagas Wicaksana
SIGN AND SCORE :

I. PRELIMINARY
A. Standards and References
ASTM D 2435 “Standard Test Method for One-Dimensional Consolidation
Properties of Soils”
SNI 03-2812-1992 “Metode pengujian konsolidasi tanah satu dimensi”

B. Objectives of The Experiment

• Determining the compression index (Cc).
• Determining the pre-consolidated pressure (Pc), to know if the soil condition
is Normally Consolidated or Over Consolidated.
• Determining the consolidation coefficient (Cv), which explains the primary
compression level of the soil.
• Determining the secondary pressure coefficient (C) which explains the creep
coefficient of a soil.

C. Tools and Materials

a. Equipment
• Consolidation loading device
• Consolidation cell
• Consolidation Ring
• Loads (1; 2; 4; 8; 16; 32 kg)
• Vernier Callipers with 0,01 mm accuracy
• Wire saws and spatula

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Consolidation Test
 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

• Vaseline, porous paper, and porous stone,

• Drying oven
• Dial with the accuracy of 0,002 mm
• Stopwatch
• Extruder
• Scales with accuracy of 0,01 gr
• Can

b. Materials
• Undisturbed soil sample from the tube

Figure 1: Consolidation tools (Source: Soil Mechanics Experiment Handbook)

D. Theory and Formula Used

Consolidation is the gradual reduction in volume a fully saturated soil of low

permeability due to drainage of some of the pore water. This process continues
until the excess pore water pressure set up by an increase in total stress has
completely dissipated.

Consolidation settlement is the vertical displacement of the surface

corresponding to the volume change at any stage of the consolidation process.

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 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

Consolidation settlement in field can be obtained by using a tool called

piezometer that will trace the pore water change by time to time.

The consolidation process time depends on these following factors:

• Degree of saturation
• Soil permeability coefficient
• Fluid cavity viscosity and compressibility
• Length of drainage lane

There are three different stages in the process of consolidation:

• Stage I : There is initial compression that happens because of the initial
loading.
• Stage II : Primary consolidation happens when the pore water pressure
slowly moves to the effective pressure. This happens because water
comes out from the soil pores.
• Stage III : Secondary consolidation happens when pore water pressure is
completely removed from the soil. The compression which occurs in this
stage is because of the plastic adjustment from the soil particles.

Meanwhile, the sudden settlement, or what is called as immediate settlement, is

because of the elastic deformation that occurs to soil that are dry, wet, and fully
saturated without any changes in its water content.

E. Additional Theory

The hydraulic conductivity, thickness, and drainage circumstances all have an

impact on the time-dependent process of soil consolidation settling. When a soil
experiences a rise in vertical stress, the immediate (initial) additional porewater
pressure matches the rise in vertical stress.

With time, the initial excess porewater pressure decreases, increasing the vertical
effective stress by the amount of the original excess porewater pressure decrease,
which leads to an increase in settlement. Primary consolidation, an early time

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Consolidation Test
 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

reaction, and secondary compression, a later time reaction, make up the

consolidation settlement.

Normally consolidated is where the effective stress that burdens the soil at the
present time is the maximum stress ever experienced by the soil. While over-
consolidated, namely where the effective stress that burdens the soil now is less
than the stress that the soil has experienced before.

II. PRACTICUM
A. Preparation
1. Measure the dimension of the consolidometer ring and its mass with vernier
callipers and scale. Then, apply Vaseline throughout the consolidometer
rings inside surface.

Figure 2: Applying Vaseline throughout the cylindrical ring (left), measuring the
consolidation ring’s diameter (right), and the consolidation ring’s height (bottom).

2. Mould the soil sample to the ring with an extruder, then smoothen the surface
with spatula. After that, weigh the ring again but with the soil inside the ring.

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Consolidation Test
 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

Figure 3: The soil sample is extruded from the tube (left), process of smoothing the soil’s
surface inside the ring (right).

B. Testing Procedures
1. Stack the module inside the consolidation cell with this order:
• Porous stone
• Porous paper
• Soil sample inside the ring
• Porous paper
• Porous stone
• Copper cylinder that functions as distributing the load equally
• Holder with 3 bolts

Figure 4: Porous paper and porous stone (left) and soil sample inside the consolidation
ring (right).

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Consolidation Test
 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

Figure 5: Copper cylinder (left) and 3 bolts as holder (right).

2. Give water until the surface of the copper cylinder is submerged, then set the
dial to zero before the load is applied; while the loading arm is still detained
by the balancing bolt.

Figure 6: Providing water until the copper cylinder is submerged (left) and setting the dial
(right).

3. Give 1 kg constant loading and take note of the dial’s reading for time interval
0”, 6”, 15”, 30”, 60”, 120”, 240”, 480”, and 24 hours.
4. Do the same step for 2; 4; 8; 16 and 32 kg loading with 24 hours’ time
interval. Take note of the dial’s reading for every loading.
5. Do unloading process by removing the load gradually from 32; 16; 8; 4; 2;
and 1 kg. Take note of the dial’s reading before the load is removed.

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Consolidation Test
 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

Figure 7: Loading process (left) and dial reading for every time (right)

6. Take out the soil from the consolidometer cell and ring. Then, weigh the soil
sample with the ring. After that, put the ring and soil inside the oven to have
the dry soil sample’s weight so that the water content can be calculated.

III. DATA PROCESSING

A. Practicum Data Result
Initial Experiment Data
Table 1. Initial Data Table

1 Ring Diameter (D) (D) 6.00 cm

2 Area (A) (A) 28.29 cm2
3 Height of Ring (Ht) (Ht) 2.00 cm
4 Initial Height of Soil (Ho) (Ho) 1.24 cm
5 Specific Gravity of Soil (Gs) (Gs) 2.67
6 Half Average Load Height (H) 1.00 cm
7 Wt. of RING + WET SOIL 365.60 gram
8 Wt. of RING + DRY SOIL 373.00 gram
9 Wt. of RING 278.90 gram
10 Wt. of WATER 7.40 gram
11 Wt. of DRY SOIL 94.10 gram
12 Initial Water Content 7.86%

Table 2. Initial Data Table

13 Initial Weight of Ring + Soil 369.20 gr
14 Weight of Ring 278.90 gr
15 Weight of Wet Soil (Wt) (Wt) 90.30 gr
17 Computed Dry Weight (W's) (W's) 94.10

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Consolidation Test
 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

18 Oven Dry Weight (Ws) (Ws) 94.10 gr

19 Computed Height Soil (H0) (H0) 1.24 cm
20 Height Difference (Hv) (Hv) 0.76
21 Initial Deg. Saturation (Si) (Si) -0.18
22 Initial Void Ratio (e0) (e0) 0.61

Final Experiment Data

Table 3. Final Data Table

23 Initial Reading 0.0197 cm

24 End Reading 0.0247 cm
25 Height Difference (∆H) (∆H) 0.0050 cm
26 End Sample Height (Hvf) (Hvf) 0.7509 cm
27 End Void Ratio (ef) (ef) 0.6035
28 End Water Content (Wf) (Wf) 7.8640 %
29 Po 1.5942 Kg/cm2
30 Void Ratio Difference (∆e) (∆e) 0.0040
31 Void Ratio (e) (e) 0.6035

B. Data Computations
a) Determining the value of t90

Figure 8: Settlement vs square root time of settlement graph, to determine t90

Steps to determine t90

1. Make the settlement vs root square time of settlement graph.
2. Pull a tangent line to the curve of the initial settlement area and search for
a point of intersection with the square root time axis. Then search for 1,15
times axis from the first intersection point and connect it to the

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 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

intersection point between the last line extensions of the curve. This is
then known as the t90.
3. We have to determine the t90 from each 1 kg, 2 kg, 4 kg, 8 kg, 16 kg, and
32 kg loads.
Table 4. Strain and Given Load Data
Time % % %
1 kg 2 kg 4 kg
(minute) strain strain strain
0 0.00 197 0% 203.1 0% 206.8 0%
0.1 0.32 199 33% 204 24% 207.5 15%
0.25 0.50 199.5 41% 204.1 27% 207.8 21%
0.5 0.71 200 49% 204.5 38% 208 25%
1 1.00 200.5 57% 204.6 41% 208.2 29%
2 1.41 201 66% 204.8 46% 208.8 42%
4 2.00 201 66% 204.9 49% 209 46%
8 2.83 201.2 69% 205 51% 209.8 63%
15 3.87 201.5 74% 205.1 54% 209.9 65%
30 5.48 202 82% 205.2 57% 210 67%
60 7.75 202.2 85% 205.8 73% 210.1 69%
1440 37.95 203.1 100% 206.8 100% 211.6 100%

Unloading 210.7 224.59% 211.1 216.22% 216.6 204.17%

Table 5. Strain and Given Load Data.

Time % % %
8 kg 16 kg 32 kg
(minute) strain strain strain
0 0.00 211.6 0% 221.5 0% 231.1 0%
0.1 0.32 215.3 37% 225.1 37% 238 43%
0.25 0.50 216.2 46% 226 46% 240 56%
0.5 0.71 217.1 56% 226.5 52% 241 62%
1 1.00 217.9 64% 227.1 58% 242 68%
2 1.41 218.2 67% 227.9 66% 243 74%
4 2.00 219 75% 228.5 72% 243.9 80%
8 2.83 219.5 80% 228.9 76% 244.5 84%
15 3.87 219.8 83% 229.1 78% 245 87%
30 5.48 220 85% 229.4 81% 245.5 90%
60 7.75 220.1 86% 229.7 85% 246.1 94%
1440 37.95 221.5 100% 231.2 100% 247.1 100%

Unloading 230.5 190.91% 238.8 178.80% 247.1 100.00%

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 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SQRT TIME vs STRAIN %

OF 1 KG
ta 1.9
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00
0%
1,15ta 2.185
10% √𝑡90 1
20% t90 1
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%

Graph 1. Relationship Between Square Root Time vs Strain % of 1 kg.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SQRT TIME vs STRAIN % ta 2.5

OF 2 KG 1,15ta 2.875
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 sqrt t90 0.8
0% t90 0.64
20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Graph 2. Relationship Between Square Root Time vs Strain % of 2 kg.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SQRT TIME vs STRAIN %

OF 4 KG
ta 3
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00
1,15ta 3.45
0%
sqrt t90 1.4
20%
t90 1.96
40%

60%

80%

100%

Graph 3. Relationship Between Square Root Time vs Strain % of 4 kg.

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Consolidation Test
 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SQRT TIME vs STRAIN % ta 1.87

OF 8 KG 1,15ta 2.1505
sqrt t90 1.1
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00
0% t90 1.21

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Graph 4. Relationship Between Square Root Time vs Strain % of 8 kg.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SQRT TIME vs STRAIN % ta 1.8

OF 16 KG 1,15ta 2.07
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 sqrt t90 0.7
0%
t90 0.49
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%

Graph 5. Relationship Between Square Root Time vs Strain % of 16 kg.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SQRT TIME vs STRAIN % ta 1.4

OF 32 KG 1,15ta 1.61
0%
sqrt t90 0.8
t90 0.64
20%

40%

60%

80%

100%
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00

Graph 6. Relationship Between Square Root Time vs Strain % of 16 kg.

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 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

So, based on the graph and the calculation above, the value of t90 of each
load is shown on the table below:
Table 6. T90 value of each load data
Load ta 1.15ta t90
1 1.9 2.185 1
2 2.5 2.875 0.8
4 3 3.45 1.4
8 1.87 2.151 1.1
16 1.8 2.07 0.7
32 1.4 1.61 0.8

b) Determining the Consolidation Coefficient (Cv)

We can determine the Cv value by using the following formula:

Calculation for 1kg load:

H = 0.999 cm
𝑡90 = 1 menit
0.848 ×(0.999)2
𝐶𝑣 = = 0.846 𝑐𝑚2 ⁄𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑡
1

So, The Cv value of each load is shown on the table below:

Table 7. T90 value of each load data

Load F Time for 90% Coefficient of
H
(kg) consolidation (min) consolidation (Cv)
0 0.000 0.999 0.000
1 1.000 0.999 0.846
2 0.640 0.999 1.322
4 1.960 0.999 0.432
8 1.210 0.999 0.699
16 0.490 0.999 1.726
32 0.640 0.999 1.322

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 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

c) Determining the Cc, Cr, P0, OCR.

Table 8. Sample Data

Time
Def Inst Average Length Coeff
Load Change Change for
Pressure dial void ht for of of
F sample in void 90% Def.
(kg/cm2) reading ratio load drainage consol
(kg) ht ratio consol
at e0 (cm) path (Cv)
(min)
0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.608 1.244 0.622 0.000 0.000
1 0.354 0.020 0.020 0.016 0.591 1.234 0.617 1.000 0.846 L
O
2 0.707 0.021 0.000 0.000 0.591 1.234 0.617 0.640 1.322 A
4 1.414 0.021 0.000 0.000 0.591 1.234 0.617 1.960 0.432 D
I
8 2.828 0.022 0.001 0.001 0.590 1.233 0.617 1.210 0.699 N
16 5.657 0.023 0.001 0.001 0.589 1.233 0.616 0.490 1.726 G

32 11.313 0.025 0.002 0.001 0.588 1.232 0.616 0.640 1.322

16 5.657 0.024 0.001 0.001 0.587 1.231 0.616 0.490 1.726 UN
L
8 2.828 0.023 0.001 0.001 0.586 1.231 0.615 1.210 0.699 O
A
4 1.414 0.022 0.001 0.001 0.585 1.230 0.615 1.960 0.432 D
2 0.707 0.021 0.001 0.000 0.585 1.230 0.615 0.640 1.322 I
N
1 0.354 0.021 0.000 0.000 0.585 1.230 0.615 1.000 0.846 G

Below are the calculations for the initial data, before processing the data for
further calculations.

1) Ring Area (A):

1
𝐴=π d2
4
1 22
𝐴= × ×6
4 7
𝐴 = 28.29 𝑐𝑚2

2) Weight of Wet Soil (Wt):

𝑊𝑡 = 𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 − 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑔
𝑊𝑡 = 369.2 − 278.29
𝑊𝑡 = 90.3 gr

3) Height Difference (Hv):

𝐻𝑣 = 𝐻𝑖 − 𝐻𝑜

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 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

𝐻𝑣 = 1.24 − 2
𝐻𝑣 = 0.76 𝑐𝑚

4) Degree of Saturation (Si):

𝑤𝑡 − 𝑊𝑠
𝑆𝑖 =
𝐻𝑣 × 𝐴
90.30 − 94.10
𝑆𝑖 =
0.76 × 28.29
𝑆𝑖 = −0.18

5) Initial Void Ratio (e0):

𝐻𝑣
𝑒0 =
𝐻0
0.76
𝑒0 =
1.24
𝑒0 = 0.61

After calculating the initial data, the resulting data helps the practician to calculate
the next dataset which is the final data, which is shown below.

1) Height Difference (∆𝐻):

∆𝐻 = 𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 − 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔
∆𝐻 = |0.0197 − 0.0247|
∆𝐻 = 0.005 𝑐𝑚

2) Final Height of Sample (Hvf):

𝐻𝑣𝑓 = 𝐻𝑣 − ∆𝐻
𝐻𝑣𝑓 = 0.76 − 0.005
𝐻𝑣𝑓 = 0.7509 𝑐𝑚

3) Final Void Ratio (ef):

𝐻𝑣𝑓
𝑒𝑓 =
𝐻0

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 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

0.7509
𝑒𝑓 =
1.24
𝑒𝑓 = 0.6035

4) Final Water Content (Wf):

𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑊𝑓 = × 100%
𝑊𝑠
7.40
𝑊𝑓 = × 100%
94.10
𝑊𝑓 = 7.864%

5) Initial Pressure (Po):

𝑊𝑡
𝑃𝑜 = ×𝐻
𝐻𝑖 × 𝐴
90.30
𝑃𝑜 = × 1.0
2.0 × 28.29
𝑃𝑜 = 1.5942 𝑘𝑔/𝑐𝑚2

6) Void Ratio Difference (∆𝑒):

∆𝐻
∆𝑒 =
𝐻0
0.005
∆𝑒 =
1.24
∆𝑒 = 0.004

7) Void Ratio (e):

𝑒 = 𝑒0 − ∆𝑒
𝑒 = 0.61 − 0.004
𝑒 = 0.6035

In order to calculate the plasticity index, the practician must first find the
compression index (Cc), which is later calculated. The plasticity index is used to
classify the soil. which uses the formula shown below (Naccl et al,1975).
𝐶𝑐 = 0.02𝑃𝐼 + 0.014

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 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

𝐶𝑐 − 0.014
𝑃𝐼 =
0.02
0.0275 − 0.014
𝑃𝐼 =
0.02
𝑃𝐼 = 0.675

After determining both the strain % and square root time values, the practician
can determine the value of t90, using the method explained below (Taylor).

Figure 9. Settlement vs square root time of settlement graph, to determine T90

Source: Soil Mechanics Experiments Handbook

Firstly, a tangent line is drawn from the first curvature point to the point of
intersection between of the square root time axis. Then the 1,15 times of the value
of the intersection (ta) is drawn a line again perpendicular to the X-axis. This line
will intersect with the square root time axis, showing the t90 value.

Next the practician may determine the consolidation coefficient (Cv) by using the
standard formula, but firstly the height of soil must be calculated beforehand, as
shown below.

1 ∆𝐻
𝐻 = (𝐻𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 − )
2 2
1 0.005
𝐻 = (2 − )
2 2
𝐻 = 0.99875 𝑐𝑚

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 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

To show an example, the calculation of the value of Cv for the load of 1 kg is as

shown below.
0.848𝐻 2
𝐶𝑣 =
𝑡90
0.848 × 0.998752
𝐶𝑣 =
1
𝐶𝑣 = 0.84588

After finding the Cv value, the practician continues by determining the pre-
consolidation presssure (Pc), which is shown in the steps explained below.

Figure 10. Void ratio vs pressure graph, to search for Pc pressure.

Source: Soil Mechanics Experiments Handbook

The practician starts from the 0 point where there is no consolidation, line 1 until
point 32, the end of consolidation. Following, draw a parallel line tangent to the
curve, which is line 2. After that, by drawing a line starting from the turning point,
horizontally, then line 4 from the last point to line 5. The last line divides the angle
between line 3 and 2 equally.

Next, the practician determines the value of compression index (Cc) mentioned
before to calculate the plasticity index, using the formula shown below.

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 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

𝑒2 − 𝑒1
𝐶𝑐 =
log 𝑝1 − log 𝑝2
1.23256 − 1.23176
𝐶𝑐 =
log 0.02471 − log 0.02312
𝐶𝑐 = 0,027523016

After knowing the void ratio values, the formula used in determining the value of
recompression index (Cr) is as shown below. Both the void ratio and pressure
values can be obtained from the graph relationship between the two, drawing line
perpendicular in both axes.

𝑒1 − 𝑒2
𝐶𝑟 =
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑝2 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑃𝑜
1.23176 − 1.23256
𝐶𝑟 =
𝑙𝑜𝑔0.02312 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔1.5942
𝐶𝑟 = 0.34

For the OCR value, the practician uses the formula shown below. For the value,
the soil is classified to be normally consolidated (OCR = 1), over consolidated
(OCR > 1) or under consolidated (OCR < 1).

𝑃𝑐
𝑂𝐶𝑅 =
𝑃𝑜
2.5
𝑂𝐶𝑅 =
1.5942
𝑂𝐶𝑅 = 1.5682

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 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

Relation Between Cv and Pressure Loading and Unloading

2.0

1.5
Cv

1.0

0.5

0.0
0.10000 1.00000 10.00000 100.00000
Pressure

Graph 7. Relation between Cv and Pressure

Relation Between Void Ratio and Pressure Loading and

Unloading
0.592
0.591
0.590
Void Ratio

0.589
0.588
Loading
0.587
0.586 Unloading
0.585
0.584
0.10000 1.00000 10.00000 100.00000
Pressure

Graph 8. Relationship between Void Ratio and Pressure

Table 8. Data Calculation Result

Known Table
Pc 2.5000
e0 0.6076
e1 1.2318
e2 1.2326
ec 0.5902
p1 0.0247
p2 0.0231
p0 1.5942

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 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

Table 9. Data Calculation Result

Graph Identification
Pc 2.5000
e0 1.2318
e1 1.2326
e2 0.5902

Table 10. Data Calculation Result

Data Calculation
Cc 0.0275
Cr 0.3399
Po 1.5942
OCR 1.5682

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 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

IV. ANALYSIS

A. Experimental Analysis

The Consolidation test practicum aims to determining the value of the

compression index (Cc), determining the pre-consolidated pressure (Pc) to
determine if the soil is normally or excessively compacted, determining the
consolidation coefficient (Cv), which is responsible for the soil's principal
compression level, and determining the secondary pressure coefficient (Cα) that
accounts for a soil's creep coefficient. In this practicum, a soil sample is being
compacted by using a consolidation tools, and the compacted height of the
sample at each given load, is measured.

This practicum needs several tools and materials, which are Consolidation
loading device as a tools to compact the soil with load, Consolidation cell as a
place to place soil samples that have been put into the Consolidation Ring, Loads
(1; 2; 4; 8; 16; 32 kg) to loading the soil sample, a Scales with accuracy of 0,01
gr and Vernier Calipers with 0,01 mm accuracy fo measure the weight and
length, respectively. Oil and porous paper membrane to make sure the soil
sample does not stick to the ring or the loading device. Drying oven to dry the
soil to obtain the oven-dry weight, Dial with the accuracy of 0,002 mm,
Stopwatch to help reading the dial, Extruder, and can. Sample of undisturbed
soil from a tube obtained during a hand boring test is also needed for this
experiment as the material.

This practicum starts by preparing all the tools and material needed in this
practicum. Then put the soil sample inside the ring that the entire inner surface
has been coated with Vaseline, to prevent the soil sample from forming
microscopic cracks and to make it simpler to remove after the consolidation
operation is over. Next, measure the dimension of the ring and weigh it.
Inserting the soil sample into the ring and levelling the surface with a spatula,
the consolidation process will be more consistent across all soil surfaces.
Following that, the consolidation ring must be stacked with porous paper and
soil sample within the ring in order to make sure that the soil sample is not
sticked to the tools. Give water until the surface of the copper cylinder is

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Consolidation Test
 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

submerged, then set the dial to zero before the load is applied; while the loading
arm is still detained by the balancing bolt. Give 1 kg constant loading and take
note of the dial’s reading for time interval 0”, 6”, 15”, 30”, 60”, 120”, 240”,
480”, and 24 hours. 4. Do the same step for 2; 4; 8; 16 and 32 kg loading with
24 hours’ time interval. Take note of the dial’s reading for every loading. Do
unloading process by removing the load gradually from 32; 16; 8; 4; 2; and 1
kg. Take note of the dial’s reading before the load is removed. If the unloading
reading is done, the practician should take out the soil from the consolidometer
cell. Then, weigh the soil sample with the ring. After that, put the ring and soil
inside the oven to have the dry soil sample’s weight (Wd) so that the water
content can be calculated. The soil sample should be heated inside the oven for
24 hours.

B. Result Analysis

From the experiment that we have done, we can obtain several data, such as the
diameter and weight of the soil, saturated unit weight and dry unit weight of the
soil sample, and we can also obtain the dial reading of the consolidation test
process. Then this data can be calculated to obtain the over consolidation ratio
(OCR), pre-consolidated pressure (Pc), consolidation coefficient (Cv) and
pressure coefficient (Cα), which can help to determine the classification of the
soil sample used in this experiment.

In the graph of relationship between Cv and pressure, the void ratio decreases
as the pressure increases shown by the trendline. From the experiment
consolidation mainly at the start of the loading. While in the unloading process,
the coefficient of consolidation increases as the unloading of the weights. Other
than that, as the void ratio gradually declines the pressure rises. This is because
the pressure compresses the soil causing the air and water in the sample to leave.

From the calculations, the plasticity index of the soil is 0.675, is classified as
between silt (PI<7), but a sandy type of silt as the PI is close to 0 (PI=0 is
classified as sand). Silt has a characteristic of between clay and sand, has a loose
texture but has a higher permeability than sand. The OCR value of the sample

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Consolidation Test
 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

is determined as 1.56, which is over-consolidated (OCR>1). Over-consolidated

soil increases in strength under pressure, while in permeability and settlement
gradually declines.

C. Error Analysis

In every practicum there must be some error that occur due to the human error
or the tools itself. The most common error that may happen in this practicum
are:

• Dial reading errors can be the consequence of the practitioner not being
precise while reading the dial pointer or from reading the dial at a time
other than the precise time set. The practican must be cautious while
reading the dial to avoid this.
• The soil sample was placed in the oven for less than 24 hours by the
practitioner, which may have prevented the material from drying
completely and led to an incorrect estimate of the dry unit weigh of the
soil. Therefore, make sure the soil sample has been dried for 24 hours.
• outdated consolidation equipment might potentially lead to mistakes in
this practicum. Due to their potential to create false readings.
• The consolidation tool was not calibrated by the practitioner, which
resulted in erroneous data. Ensure that all of the equipment has been
calibrated in advance.

V. APPLICATION

The application of the consolidation test in civil engineering is:

• To calculate predictions of land subsidence due to the consolidation process,

and indirectly can also be used to determine soil permeability.
• To predict land subsidence that occurs caused by the load, or it can be said to
predict the strength of the soil in withstand the load.

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Consolidation Test
 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

VI. CONCLUSION

1. The soil sample has 0.0275 compression index (Cc) value.

2. The soil sample has 2.5 pre-consolidated pressure (Pc) value.
3. The soil sample has 0.8459 coefficient of compressibility (Cv) value.
4. The soil sample has 0.34 secondary pressure coefficient (Cr) value.
5. The soil sample type is silty sand.
6. The soil sample has a very low plasticity and tiny cohesiveness.

VII. REFERENCES

Syihan, Ahmad and Bahsan, Erly. (2017). Soil Mechanics Handbook, Faculty of
Engineering, Universitas Indonesia.
Obinna, U. (2020). Normally Consolidated and Overconsolidated Soils.

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Consolidation Test
 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

VIII. LAMPIRAN

Figure 11. Consolidation Test Data

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Consolidation Test
 Laboratorium Mekanika Tanah
Departmen Teknik Sipi; – Fakultas Teknik
Universitas Indonesia

Figure 12. Reading the Dial

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Consolidation Test