Lecture on 10-9-13

CE-313 (2 Credit Hours)

Geotechnical Engineering-II

Consolidation
Instructor:

Prof- Dr Irshad Ahmad

Department of Civil Engineering

University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar
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 CONTENTS

• 1D Consolidation,
• Oedometer Test,
• e- curve, e-log() curve,
• OCR, OCC, and NCC,
• Compression index, recompression index,
• Determination of Preconolidation Pressure by
Casagrande Method
• Schmertmann Procedure to obtain in-situ e-log()
curve
• coefficient of volume compressibility
• Consolidation settlement calculations for NCC and
OCC

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 One Dimensional Consolidation
One-dimensional compression, in which deformation takes place in the direction
of loading, only, has a particular significance in soil mechanics and foundation
engineering. The natural loading and unloading of a soil stratum - for example
during the deposition and erosion of overlying material- generally take place
under conditions of one-dimensional compression, because lateral strains at any
point are prevented by the surrounding soil. This mode of deformation is often
assumed to be approximately appropriate for soil subjected to vertical loads from
pad, strip and especially raft foundations (Figure 1).
If the soil is of low permeability, the application of a surface load results initially
in an increase in the pore water pressure. This gives rise to hydraulic gradient, in
response to which pore water flows out of the soil and the soil deforms: As the
water flows out of the soil, the pore water pressures gradually return to their
equilibrium after which no further deformation takes place. The time-related
process of deformation due to the dissipation of non-equilibrium pore water
pressures is described as consolidation. The term compression is used more
generally to describe changes in volume due to changes in effective stress, without
reference to the timescale over which they occur.

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One-Dimensional Consolidation

∆h

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 Summary of the Chapter
Consolidation
Equations

Consolidation Parameter
(Cc, Cr, mv ,cv,ꞌp)

Undisturbed Sample transfer to

Laboratory

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 Importance of Consolidation

Time (years)

Rate of consolidation

∆Hc (final consolidation settlement)

∆H

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1D Oedometer Test-Procedure

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1D Oedometer Test-Procedure

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1D Oedometer Test-Procedure

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1D Oedometer Test-Procedure

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1D Oedometer Test-Procedure

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 1

∆h

Time Stress () ∆h e

0 0 0 eo
24 hrs ꞌ1 1 ∆h1 e1
24 hrs ꞌ2 2 ∆h2 e2
------ ------ ------ -------
------ ------ ------ -------

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Lab e-log() curve

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 Lab e-log() curve

Compression curve

Recompression curve

Expansion curve

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 Lab e- curve

Compression curve

Recompression curve

Expansion curve

ꞌ
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 Lab e-log() curve
Recompression curve ꞌp

Virgine compression

Recompression curve ꞌp

Virgine compression

Expansion
/rebound/Swell
curve

Log ꞌ

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 Preconsolidation Pressure (p)
The maximum effective stress which the soil has taken during the life time, is called
Preconsolidation Pressure.
Casagrande Method

1.Produce the straight line part (BC) of the curve.

2.Determine the point (D) of maximum curvature on the recompression part (AB) of the curve.
3.Draw the tangent to the curve at D and bisect the angle between the tangent and the
horizontal through D.
4.The vertical through the point of intersection of the bisector and CB produced gives the
approximate value of the preconsolidation pressure.

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Casagrande Method
Produced Back Straight line

Horizontal line
D
Bisector

Tangent line

Logꞌ
ꞌp

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Over-Consolidation Ratio OCR

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 Insitu e-log() Curve for NCC
 Schmertmann (1955) Procedure

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 In situ e-log() Curve for NCC
ꞌvoꞌp
eo 1

Field virgin compression curve

Laboratory virgin compression

curve Cc compression index

0.42eo 2

Logꞌ
ꞌvoꞌp
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Cc for NCC

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 Insitu e-log() Curve for OCC
 Schmertmann Procedure

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 Insitu e-log() Curve for OCC
ꞌvo ꞌp
e0 1
2

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Cr recompression index

Field virgin compression curve

Laboratory virgin
compression curve 1

Cc compression index

0.42eo 3

Logꞌ

ꞌvo ꞌp
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Corrected value of (Cr)for OCC

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 Compression Index (Cc)

The slope of the linear portion of the e-log ꞌ curve is called “compression Index
(Cc)” and it is dimensionless quantity. On any two point of the virgin portion of the
plot;

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 Recompression Index (Cr)
The slope of the recompression part of the e-log(ꞌ) curve. Select any two
points on recompression curve to calculate Cr .

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Values of Cc & Cr

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